When Marceline entered the tavern this time, she was met by the same sight as last time, nobles and commoners, some behind their wives' backs and the others just here for a drink or a warm body. She took a seat by the father after purchasing a bottle of wine, pouring herself some in a tankard she took a swig, before she heard a familiar voice: "Marshall! I didn't know you'd be here tonight!" seconds later Fiona was comfortable in Marceline's lap.

"Fiona, it's been a while." Marceline chuckled nervously, not missing the look Fiona gave her, the girl's eyes roaming her body. "What do you say we take this upstairs, hm?" Fiona beckoned, rubbing herself against Marceline's crotch, Marceline groaned, but it elicited no reaction.

That terrified her.

Never in her life has she failed to 'get it up' for such a beautiful woman.

Then again there was somebody occupying her thoughts already, and she regarded sleeping with someone else when her mind was elsewhere rather rude.

"I..I can't Fiona, I'm sorry."

"Of course you can! all you need is a little...encouragement." Fiona licked her lips, her eyes darting down for a moment before looking back up, Marceline gulped, still no reaction.

And so she decided leaving was probably the best thing to do in such a situation. She apologized to Fiona over and over before hurrying out the door, the tavern wench was rather confident, but Marceline guessed the girl had never been rejected before, and this must have been a slap to the face.

When Marceline returned to the barracks, she threw herself on her bed and started contemplating tomorrow. She would be named "Knight" officially tomorrow, the feast was tomorrow, servants have been preparing for weeks, the King said there were dark times ahead, she would also know about that tomorrow. After all, a Knight is trusted with everything that goes on in the castle, and her being the Queen's personal guard troubled her. Not as in she didn't want to be, she was honored, and..a list of other things, but no matter! she shook her head, the King had said there were dark times ahead and they needed to be prepared.


Tradition had it so Marceline took a bath, then wore white before heading to the throne room. White, all she could see was white, it was never her favourite colour but it wasn't her place to complain.

She approached the throne and knelt in front of the Queen, a smile on both of their faces. Earlier, when Bonnibel saw her she had to resist the urge to wrap her in an embrace, honestly, she was the Queen and yet she barely knew of anything that happened in the castle. But all that mattered now is that Marceline is safe.

The Queen stepped away from Marceline and a man was before her, "Squire, you are to swear in the Maker's name when you say your vows, and you are to swear in his name to protect and serve both your King and Queen and their people, begin." The man said simply, Marceline had been given her vows before she took the ceremonial bath, and she had memorized them

"I swear in the Maker's name to always defend a lady. I swear by the Maker's name to be loyal to my Queen, to protect her, to serve her and to die for her if need be. I swear by the Maker's name that I would speak the truth no matter the circumstance. I swear by the Maker's name that I shall be brave, and defend the poor and helpless. And I swear by the Maker's name to never refuse a duel that beckoned me." when Marceline was finished, the man put his hand on her head, "Maker guide your path, child. May you always walk in his light, and may he aid you in your journeys." Bonnibel took a sword from a servant, walking up to where she was originally and tapping the flat side of the sword on Marceline's right shoulder, then she softly raised it and tapped it on her left shoulder, conferring Knighthood.

Marceline wore her armor over her white robe (thank the Maker it was comfortable) and was given the sword she was knighted with, it was made of dragon bones mixed with some kind of metal, she was told the armor would be ready in a week. The now Knight was given a new mare especially for her, she called her "Shadow" because of how black she was, and she had red eyes, she was even faster than Frost. Marceline had to demonstrate her skills once again, and once she was done everyone went back inside to celebrate, bottles of mead were exchanges, songs fills the halls of the castle, and everyone was happy.

At least for now.

Marceline spent a few months repeating her daily duties, stand next to the Queen's throne during the day, and then go to her chambers at night across from the King and Queen's.

Or at least that was what she was supposed to do.

Instead she was sitting on the bed with the Queen, playing her lute. Marceline knew this was dangerous, it would destroy the Queen's reputation if they were caught, but she couldn't find it in herself to care.

"Why does the King treat you that way, Bonnibel?" she had taken to calling her by her first name, Marceline loved the Queen's name, and the woman herself told her to drop any formalities when they were alone.

"He was very gentle at first, never said anything distasteful to me, never hurt me be that physically or emotionally. The ideal King. I started to think 'Perhaps I've misjudged him' but then I 'failed' to produce an heir. And he started spending less time in our chambers until it was no time at all." the Queen frowned, Marceline knew what Bonnibel was thinking, she was thinking that she was at fault, when she wasn't. "Bonnibel, you are the most beautiful, most intelligent woman I have met. You deserve better, perhaps it is not my place to say this but..you are everything to me." Marceline whispered, her face awfully close to Bonnibel's, the Queen glanced at her lips then back at her eyes, Marceline hesitated at first before locking her lips with the Queen's.

It was slow at first, then it turned feverish, the Queen positioned herself on Marceline's lap, burying her hands in Marceline's hair, which was getting longer. The warrior had her arms wrapped around Bonnibel's waist, she could feel getting tighter with time, and she was beginning to feel uncomfortable, and then Bonnibel broke the kiss and froze, Marceline looked down.

Oh, so that's what it was.

"I think I understand why you chose to pass as a man." the Queen said simply. Marceline blinked, expecting a different, far more chaotic reaction.

But judging from how Bonnibel was moving her hands to undo Marceline's trousers, the Queen didn't seem to mind.

"You are certainly..eager." Marceline groaned, the Queen's hand slipped inside Marceline's trousers, ignoring her loin cloth and going straight for the prize. Marceline drew a sharp intake of breath when she felt the Queen's hand on her shaft, feeling herself grow in Bonnibel's hand, she was embarrassed.

"A Queen has her needs." Bonnibel smirked -she smirked- when she said that, even as she stroked Marceline and the Knight was squirming under her.

Then they heard it.

A sound awfully close to the door of the King and Queen's chambers. They both froze, Marceline's blood running cold. The King was back, they had to act.

Marceline quickly slapped the Queen's hand before taking her lute and rushing to the window, jumping without a second thought. Thank the Maker the King wasn't moon-born.

"Marshall, I must speak with you." the King echoed as soon as Marceline stepped into the throne room, she gulped. Had he seen her? no, that's impossible. She followed the King into his war room and was relieved that he was about to discuss something of a combat nature..not whatever she was doing with the Queen the previous night.

The warrior started recalling the night's events, already feeling a warmth in the area between her legs. Fuck, she was truly like a fly caught in a spider's web. She was beginning to fall in love with the Queen.

"Marshall!" she was brought back to reality by the King's voice, no doubt he had called her 'name' many times with her mind elsewhere.

"I apologize my King, I as merely lost in thought." she said apologetically.

"It's quite alright. Now, what I wanted to discuss with you, this flag over here." he pointed to a single flag with an insignia of a Unicorn on it. "This is the enemy, their King is planning on marching on us, and taking us by surprise. I, however, have been planning with my elite soldiers on a way to prevent that. The King has already moved slightly towards us, and I fear the worst. I have been preparing for months now, and shall go fight whatever numbers he has placed on our borders." He said, hand on his forehead.

Marceline nodded "when will we be moving, my King?" she inquired, the King looked at her incredulously "We? no, no my dear Knight, you shall be staying here. I'am entrusting the castle to you, along with whatever's in the kingdom. You are to protect them, and to listen to them and help them, no matter the price."

Marceline was never one to care for responsibility, and she didn't care much for 'her king' or his castle except for a few people whom had become her friends over the course of the 2 years she had spent in it. "You're majesty, that is a great honor." she bowed to him, not making a move to refuse his indirect order. He smiled at her, lips parting to show his teeth. "Excellent. I trust you will be competent to protect my kingdom while I'am away."

Everyone in the castle spent that night preparing.


The next morning, the King had readied his army, the castle was almost empty, save for about 50 guards or maybe even less. He had taken the blacksmith, Claire insisted she go with her husband, the feeling of dread that used to clench at Marceline's insides when she saw the man kiss the woman she once loved was no longer there, for when she looked back, the Queen was standing at the balcony, waving.

It was a general who rode Frost this time. He gave an inspirational speech to the troops, the King was on his own horse at the head of the army, Marceline headed towards him, "I suspect we will be gone for a few months, five at most if things go well, pray to the Maker we survive. And protect my Queen." Finnick said seriously, Marceline merely nodded, but she was angry.

Why does he pretend like he cares for her?

No matter. Bonnibel was Marceline's now in all but name...and something else.

But they could work on that.

When the King's army rode far from the villages surrounding the castle, Marceline thought to herself that she might need to increase the number of guards surrounding the castle. It was enormous, and 50 or less people would not be able to protect it.

She needed to establish her own elite force. Even if she were to be back to being a regular Knight, she could do with a pack.

Marceline grinned wolfishly.

"I was wondering when you would come to my chamber-" Marceline was cut off by a kiss from the Queen, quickly recovering she hugged the woman's waist, kissing her back just as passionately, she slammed the Queen against her chambers' door, trying to undo her dress.

"Blasted thing!" she yelled in frustration, hearing the Queen's impatient grunt and telling her to do it faster, she quickly resorted to ripping the dress instead, removing the upper part of it and not bothering with the lower, she hoisted the lower part of the dress up to the Queen's hips and pushed her undergarments aside (thank the Maker it was easy) before running a finger along the Queen's opening, making her gasp. When Marceline was sure the Queen was ready, she pulled her away from the door before slamming her against a wall (albeit gently), the Queen's back to her front, she ripped her trousers next, positioning herself properly before entering slowly, both of the women gasping at the sensation.

With Marceline being surprisingly gentle it took minutes for her to be fully sheathed inside the Queen, she pressed herself flush against Bonnibel's back kissing her neck first then her lips, thrusting in a rapid pace, making sure she went deep every time. Their kiss was a sloppy wet mess, but they were definitely enjoying it, Marceline's hands which were placed against the wall to support herself went down to the Queen's hips before slowly making their way up her back, caressing gently, then going to her stomach before Marceline massaged her breasts. Bonnibel gasped in Marceline's mouth, the Knight pulled away, opting to leave kisses on the Queen's neck then her back and shoulders, biting gently but enough to leave a mark whenever she felt necessary.

Bonnibel's walls clamped on Marceline's shaft, making it harder for her to hold back, when she was sure the Queen was peering over the edge, she gave one last, deep thrust before her lips found the monarch's and emptied herself inside of her lover, feeling her release coming shortly after.

"Maker!" Bonnibel exclaimed as she threw herself on Marceline's bed, with Marceline next to her, smirking.

"Have you enjoyed it, milady?" Marceline questioned softly, stroking Bonnibel's cheek.

"You were so hard." Marceline blushed, for the first time in years, she had never imagined the Queen to be so..forward, "and that stamina" Bonnibel swooned, Marceline smirked this time before running her hand over her lover's stomach.

"Again, milady?" Marceline asked, already reaching for the Queen's hips.

"I couldn't possibly." Bonnibel responded, even as she wrapped her arms around Marceline's neck.

"I love you."

Marceline's eyes widened.