"Wait here Arat," said Queen Blake turning to her lady-in-waiting as she and King Negan reached a door at the far end of the long stone hallway, her hand still grasping his arm.

From here the queen could smell his musky scent, like that of a thousand fires and the richest of leather.

His close proximity to her had already began to stir a needy warmth between her legs. Something she had not felt in a while, even with the aid of some of the most handsome knights in the land in her bed every other night.

Her handmaid stared at her questioningly for a short moment before nodding and taking her leave, just as the King turned to his own man-servant.

"Simon, take your own leave as well, myself and the Queen have much to discuss apparently," he said with a smirk dancing over his arrogant mouth.

Was it bad that the queen found that so attractive?

No, they were here on business and business needed to be discussed first and foremost.

Both parties disappeared off, leaving King Negan and Queen Blake alone, as the latter pushed open the door to the room.

She noticed the king stop for a moment as though surprised by her willingness to do things for herself.

It was customary of course as a queen for things to be done for you, but Blake hadn't gotten where she was by sitting down an waiting for others. She was a leader and a good one at that, and took things into her own hands when and where she could.

The queen had already made sure that room was set up in a gorgeous part of the castle, full of plush furnishings, the most luxurious of furs, and seats made out of polished wood and feathers stuffed into red silks.

Plump cushions lined the seats, and with her hand, the queen guided the king over towards the couches where she eased herself down onto the nearest one, her lengthy golden gown rippling along the floor as she sat.

"Would you care to pour us some wine?" she said in a gentle voice, gesturing to a small nearby table where a jug of deep burgundy wine sat beside two golden goblets. "It's the finest vintage from my land. I had it brought here especially for us to share."

For a moment the King turned to her, raising a dark eyebrow before speaking.

"I'm not that easily poisoned, my Queen," he smirked, looking darkly handsome.

But Queen Blake smiled, leaning her elbow on the arm of the seat and placing her smallest finger between her lips, a flicker of a smile forming there as she rolled her eyes and gave a huge sigh.

"I can assure you it's not poisoned, King," she said reaching out her other hand for a goblet. "I mean I will gladly drink the entire jug if you'd rather not partake. It's my favourite."

The king's smirk seemed to widen as he moved over to the jug anyway and slowly pouring wine into both goblets before handing her one and taking a seat opposite her.

The queen was draped across the seat, and the king took no time in doing the same, as their eyes flickered up and down over one another with interest.

"So…" uttered the King with a grin, spreading his legs wide. "What is it you were so desperate to discuss with me AWAY from council, my Queen?"

But the queen merely smirked back herself taking a sip of wine.

"You haven't tasted the wine yet.." she purred out, lowering her goblet lazily.

The king's eyes roved across her face for a short moment before he lifted his own cup to his lips, stopping just before he took a drink.

"Are you sure you're not trying to poison me?" he uttered out in a teasing voice that caused Queen Blake to laugh gently and shake her head.

"I'm here to talk with you, not to kill you," he said with a sigh. "But if you do insist on being such an annoyance to me, your majesty, then I might just think about it."

At her words she saw the king's hazel eyes light up, twinkling in the soft light of the room.

"Something tells me we should have met a long, long time ago," murmured the king, as he took a long draught from his goblet before placing it down onto the table beside him with ease.

But the queen shrugged lightly, examining the delicate golden rings that lay banded around her fingers nonchalantly.

"I'm not sure if you could have afforded my time, dear king…" she sighed again, a hint of something devilish in her voice. "I'm a very busy woman and even this little meeting has set my schedule back by at least a month."

The king let out a smile.

"Well I'm sorry to keep you, my Queen," he teased out. "Maybe I should let you get back to...what is it?...embroidery?….painting?"

But an amaused frown settled itself between the queen's eyebrows.

Goodness he truly was as arrogant as his letters suggested, wasn't he?

"Riding, actually," she contradicted him curtly. "Hunting too. I'm missing out on peak season coming to meet you here."

The King suddenly leaned forwards, running his tongue over his bottom lip in interest.

"You hunt?" he asked, sounding shocked by her admission.

But the queen merely waved a hand dismissively.

"I ride...I hunt...I command my army...I do everything you do, King Negan…my sex makes no difference when it comes to my rule," she said smoothly.

But Negan's lips twitched up into a grin.

"Can't piss up against a tree though, can you?" he said in a cocky voice, that caused the queen's green eyes to narrow.

"You know maybe I've changed my mind about killing you," she uttered out, lifting her chin and gazing at him.

But the king only laughed, patting the sword sheathed at his belt.

"Oh I would like to see you try, your majesty," he hissed out, causing the queen to tut and roll her eyes.

"Pfft. You think I would try and kill you in a sword fight, King Negan?" she said in a low voice, suddenly placing her fingers to her cheek and leaning her elbow against the arm of the couch. "I'm not that stupid."

She pushed herself slowly from the seat and got to her feet, wandering slowly over to the fireplace which burned hot and orange in the corner of the expansive room, making sure the king's eyes were firmly on her, as her hips swayed this way and that.

"No," she continued promptly. "I would probably just try and seduce you instead...and then, after midnight when you're spent from me riding your cock all night, I'd cut your throat. It's all very simple."

And just like that, the room all of a sudden went very, very quiet, and with her face turned away from his, staring down into the flames, the queen smiled to herself.

For this was her plan all along. To catch him o f guard. To play a game with him.

Slowly she turned her head back towards the couch to see the king staring over at her, his eyes suddenly very dark and lustful, like a wolf ready to devour his prey.

She wondered how many whores he had been with since his wife's passing. Not that it mattered all that much to her, but she guessed it was not common for him to hear that come out of the mouth of any woman, let alone one of her standing.

Suddenly he got to his feet, pushing himself from the couch and strolling slowly over towards her, lips pressed together, face fixed and unreadable.

The queen felt herself becoming very warm, as her breasts rose and fell within her bodice and her heart raced.

Until finally, the king came to a stop just in front of her, taking the goblet from her grasp and placing it atop the mantelpiece, before leaning in towards her, his dark eyes never leaving hers.

He could certainly use his sword on here right here if he wanted to. Although which weapon, sheathed at his belt, she was referring to, she wasn't quite so sure anymore, her thoughts becoming misted in the cloud of his intoxicating presence, far too close to her now.

"Well, my queen, that is where your plan falls short," he suddenly growled out, his warm breath dusting over her lips. "Because if you think I would be spent and out for the count after midnight, then you'd be very much mistaken…"

He suddenly leaned his face into hers, his lips reaching her ear, as he lifted a gloved hand, brushing back a loose strand of caramel hair that lingered there.

"...because with you in my bed, I would last all night, with my cock so hard for you, it could break through ice."

His words alone, hissed into her ear, causing a dampness to pool between the queen's thighs, and for her to clutch a hold of the king's forearm tightly.

And at the contact between them Blake noticed the king pull back a little and stare down at her smugly, and arrogant smile spreading across his long face.

But the queen was not going to let this ass get one over on her so easily.

And so, in the blink of an eye and with a roar of anger, there was a sudden flash of steel, the queen, producing a sharp, jewel-encrusted dagger from her bodice, and holding it to the king's bearded throat.

"I should kill you for your arrogance," she hissed out through gritted teeth.

But the king just laughed cockily, his adam's apple bobbing up and down, past the blade as he did so.

"Perhaps you should," he said, his eyes locked onto hers, staring at her impressed, in a look of utter awe. "But cutting my throat here and now before you've even had a chance to ride my cock as you suggested, would certainly be a great pity, don't you think, my Queen?"

His taunting tone made the queen scowl a little harder for a brief moment, before she suddenly gave a hard sigh, tutting and pulling the dagger away from the king's throat, snatching her goblet up again and turning away from him.

"This was a mistake," she said raising the cup to her lips but lowering it again before she had the chance to sip, looking rather forlorn as she glided over toward the window that looked out across the expansive arable region beyond. "There's a reason our families haven't come together in the last two hundred years. Maybe we're just destined to despise each other."

She gave a shaky sigh, dropping her dagger down onto the floor at her side in defeat.

Perhaps the decision to come her had been hasty, to go against all that her fathers and forefathers had strived for for so long.

Perhaps this whole things was a mistake.

"I don't despise you..." came King Negan's sudden voice from behind her, low and ernest sounding.

The queen turned around and stared at him a little confused as he approached her, dropping his chin slightly.

"I came here because tales of your grace and your leadership towards your people are of legend in my kingdom," he continued coming to stop just a foot or two away from her now, keeping a respectful distance, a sharp contrast to his stance just a few moments before. "And your words and your courtesy in your letters after my wife's passing were truly appreciated by me, more than I could ever hope to say."

There was something different about King Negan now as the queen stared back at him, tilting her head gently to the side. A sort of sadness in his eyes that hurt her to even look at.

Maybe all this had been the right thing to do after all.

Maybe there should be no games...for now at least...not until discussions and deals between the two of them were finalised.

And so, the queen nodded reverently, moving forwards to touch the king's forearm gently.

"Come," she said in a soft voice nodding back towards the seats in the centre of the room. "There is much we need to discuss."