Ghosts of the Past

Briar sighed slightly and regarded Lorelei with a resigned look. "All right." She said sitting down and rubbing her temples. "What have we forgotten?"

Lorelei frowned and shook her head. "We did invitations and the seating charts." She ticked the items off on her fingers. "We determined that the Great Hall in the Royal Court will do admirably for the wedding and Royal Banquet Hall there for the reception. Between the ceremony and the reception we go by open carriage through Suzail and wave at everyone so they can see how happy we are." She shook her head over that one, rolling her eyes. "I don't remember Mother and Daddy being required to do that, but Alusair was rushing the wedding so maybe they couldn't prepare."

Briar sighed. "Dragon and Sebastian are planning the wedding journeys. Our dresses are done, shoes, stockings, garters and hairstyles chosen." She closed her eyes and pictured in her mind everything they'd done. "The attendants gowns are ready, Asrai's gown is ready." She groaned. "Andreas, and the groomsmen's suits are taken care of. Dragon and Sebastian are also set."

"We've decided on the flowers." Lorelei frowned and looked at Briar. "We did do the flowers right?"

Her friend blinked and tried to remember. "Didn't we?" Her eyes opened wide and she stared at Lorelei shaking her head. "Remember? We were all going to talk about it, and then Andreas and Sebastian fought…we completely forgot."

Lorelei groaned and buried her face in her hands with a wail. "Oh no!"

"Oh no what?" Her twin asked from the doorway. Andreas leaned against the doorframe and regarded his sister with a concerned gaze. Briar stiffened but brought herself to smile politely and relax.

"We completely forgot the flowers for the wedding." She said finally. "Now that I think of it, we forgot the decorations for the reception and the wedding. That usually comes along with flowers." She shook her head. "It's too late for the conservatories to begin forcing flowers if we want something out of season."

Lorelei sniffled and looked up. "Out of season? Its six days short of Eleint." She stated. "Flowers bloom in the spring and summer, not in autumn."

Andreas moved towards his twin and sat beside her. "We have mages who could create masses of flowers for you." He pointed out. "Though somehow that feels vaguely wrong." The Crown Prince put his arm around his slender twin and looked at Briar. "Well first things first." He said firmly. "What type of flowers did you want?"

Briar looked at Lorelei. "If Asrai is wearing gold, and the bridesmaids deep rose…we could look for late blooming roses…or…aren't golden lilies late-blooming?" She asked uncertainly. Lorelei shrugged her own mystification.

Andreas smiled slightly. "Why don't we go to the Conservatory and see what is blooming there, and ask the gardeners what will be available." He tilted his head. "If you will allow me to offer my escort and help." He asked gently looking at the two of them.

Lorelei smiled. "I would like your company twin." She said gently. Andreas looked at Briar and his eyebrows rose slightly in silent query.

The green eyed bard nodded and a slow smile curved her lips. "It would be good to have your advice Andreas." She agreed quietly. "If you do not mind being embroiled in a discussion with first the gardeners and then several others. We need to decide also, when we have flowers, on how to decorate the halls."

Andreas grinned at her. "Let's take this one step at a time."

Briar watched as Lorelei pulled forth several bolts of fine muslin and examined the color. The princess had thrown herself into this task as if determined to resolve the issue before sundown. As it was they had been out the entire day and were finally closer to making a final decision.

Andreas touched her elbow drawing her gaze up to his. "Her name was Katrina." He said quietly. When Briar frowned her confusion at him he explained more softly. "The lady I was forced to part from. Her name was Katrina." A shrug lifted his shoulders in slight resignation. "Its been rather forcefully brought home to me that my behavior in the past few years hasn't been all that anyone could wish, not even myself truly. I only hope its not to late to make my peace with you."

Briar smiled slightly. "Andreas, your quarrel isn't with me. I don't know if it was truly even with Sebastian. But it was he whom you wronged. If you can make your peace with him, I have ever valued your friendship, even when I said things I regret. Truth and anger do not mesh well I've learned."

Andreas nodded and bowed over her hand. "As have I." He nodded towards his twin. "I think she needs our august opinions." Briar smiled and rolled her eyes as he escorted her to his twin's side.

"What have you decided Lorelei?" The bard asked curiously. "Now that we've determined there are enough gold and blush roses that we can have scattered flowers as well as for Asrai and the bridesmaids to carry bouquets."

Lorelei held up the muslin. "We can use this, over the chairs, with bows of the same fabric over the back. Then we have it draped from the chandeliers to the walls and down the walls in ribbons of pale colors. Rose and gold and white, and an almost silvery grey."

"The gold would have to be the same color as your hair nearly, to not clash with the grey." Briar said thoughtfully. "And if we add a touch of greenery, and perhaps…golden flowers…"

Andreas leaned against the counter and picked something up. "What is this?" He asked the shopkeeper.

The woman smiled, charmed by the prince's interest and direct golden hazel gaze. "It's a butterfly your Royal Highness." She bobbed a curtsey. "I made it for my daughter. With some gauze and a thin wire it's not difficult to make them. I put a little paint for detail."

Andreas turned and bowed to his twin and his soon to be sister in law. "Ladies, I think we may have found the perfect thing to fill in for your absent flowers." He said with the grin that had charmed so many court ladies.

"Ohhh…" Lorelei sighed in delight. "How lovely! That would be perfect… in different colors, they could all be different and it would be just beautiful." Briar nodded her dark eyes glowing with excitement.

Andreas turned back to the shopkeeper and held up the butterfly. "I return your child's toy, but would you be able to have at least nine dozen made before the last week of Eleint?" The woman's eyes widened and she hesitated clearly not certain if she could fill such an order, but at the same time not wishing to disappoint the prince. Andreas grinned. "Why don't we have you come up to the palace tomorrow, I'll leave word at the gates for you Madam Norla, and you can teach the folk we'll find to help you. We'll make certain you are compensated for your time."

Briar smiled wistfully. "It would be lovely…We could have tiny ones made to go in the bouquets, and in our hair."

"Oh that's a wonderful idea." Lorelei agreed. "Please, will you?" She asked the woman pleadingly.

Of a soft heart to begin with Madame Norla couldn't resist the combined charm of the Obarskyr twins and she nodded. "I'll bring the fabric you was wishing as well your Highness." She smiled. "You'll have as many butterflies and drapings as you like."

The two girls grinned at each other and Lorelei hugged her twin happily. "This is better than if we had flowers galore!" She said excitedly. "We'll be able to keep some of the butterflies to remember."

Briar grinned up at Andreas. "Well done your Royal Highness." She curtseyed with a teasing gleam in her eyes.

"Oh please anything but that!" Andreas held up his hands in surrender. "Now will you both return to the palace? We have been gone a while and you know how they worry, even with Karse and Delia here." At the sound of their names the two bodyguards looked up seeing that the three of them were ready to go.

Sebastian looked at Dragon and shook his head. "No, its no good." He said finally. "I'm going insane."

Dragon laughed outright and clapped the younger man on the shoulder. "Sebastian, my friend you are simply trying to deal with too many things at once." He pulled the prince up and slammed the tome they'd been reading shut. "Come with me."

Sebastian sighed. "And where are you going?" He asked whimsically. "I'm already halfway to insane." He rolled his eyes and shook his head trying to rid himself of his cynical mood.

Dragon grinned and the expression was so nervously maniacal that the prince shuddered. "Actually, I'm going to pick out a wedding gift for my betrothed." The future archmage informed his friend. "I had thought you would wish to accompany me and perhaps fulfill the same goal?" He raised his eyebrows curiously.

Sebastian smiled genuinely this time. "Now that is a goal I can happily work towards achieving." He put his hand on the book and looked up at Dragon in concern. "Am I doing at all well in this?" Dark blue eyes looked up at Dragon anxiously.

"Sebastian, you can't expect to master the bright Art overnight." The warrior mage said quietly. "And it's not as if you have twelve hours a day to devote to learning it. You must maintain your image as the foolish courtier, and thus, our sessions are curtailed." He clasped the young man's shoulder. "You are doing too much at once, as I believe I said. Now, come with me, pick out something I'm sure I won't want to know about in connection with my sister, and I'll do the same for Lorelei, and we'll also get them true wedding gifts. That will help with your idiotic image and also make our two ladies happy, as well as ourselves."

Sebastian grinned up at him appreciating the logic in the rasping voice. "You know you didn't used to talk this much." He said with a laugh. "I think you're right though. And afterward I have other duties. Raden sent me a tiny assignment. He said it would help me expend some excess energy."

"Wonderful." Dragon rolled his eyes. "As long as you return to Briar in one piece."

Andreas sank down into a chair and regarded the parchment he held. He'd led Madame Norla to the many maids his twin and Briar had found and left her busily instructing them in how to make silk butterflies. Lorelei and Briar were in the Royal Court now, busily sketching out decorations and arguing amiably over them.

The Crown Prince sighed. The list he held of things he had to do before the wedding was barely complete. Most of them required speaking to his brother and he hadn't the least idea of where to begin. The talk he'd had with his parents, or rather the talk they had given him, had finally brought home what a fool he'd been. He could see that now, with almost terrifying clarity. But how he could mend every friendship he'd broken.

He pushed his fingers through his hair and groaned. Dragon had never seemed as angry with him for some reason, most likely because he felt it not worth the effort. The warrior mage had succeeded in remaining friendly with both he and Sebastian. Andreas smiled. Dragon also had kept Lorelei from smacking some sense into her twin quite a few times in the past weeks. And now he'd managed to reforge something of the old bond he'd had with his twin. Helping her with her wedding was the best thing he could think of to do.

Briar, the prince shook his head, Briar had made it clear that whatever friendship they had would not be the same until he had made amends with his brother. She didn't consider what he had done a personal injury, for which he was grateful.

Maggie…Andreas smiled with genuine pleasure. His sweet kind Maggie had forgiven him for his insults, and given him comfort and love and tolerated his foolishness. He was so grateful she hadn't slapped him in the face when she'd come out of Sebastian's rooms. What could he do to make her understand what she meant to him…that he was at last ready to look ahead and not behind. A wicked grin spread his lips wider as he thought of a way.

'The actor Angelus was killed by Lord Raoul after he attempted to murder the young nobleman. He was apparently trying to convince Raoul's betrothed, an actress by name of Christine, to return to the theatre. It is theorized that he believed if Christine's fiancé was dead, she would have no reason to leave the theatre.

Angelus was killed when Raoul was defending himself and Christine from the actor. The actor vowed he would have his vengeance by taking another actress as a student and achieving his glory with her. He apparently has been trying to do so for a century or more. Princess Asrai is his latest attempt.'

Sabine looked up from the report she'd been given and regarded the spies who stood before her. The rest of them were still out, but each group had sent a representative. "Why in the name of Nicodemus couldn't she simply have fallen in love?" She wondered aloud. Shaking her head she shrugged. "I have some news as well." Standing up she began to pace back and forth, her hands flexing at her sides. "I managed to persuade one of the Priests of Night to confirm a few pieces of information for me. With the exception of the last time, the priests have been sent for in Asrai's name. But I was told that it is not one of my blood who has been harmed. So that means it is Faith who was hurt."

"Faith?" Shock echoed through the Echo's tone and Sabine nodded her confirmation of that grim fact. Harming Faith was well nigh impossible it seemed. Yet she had been repeatedly injured. Glittering eyes met the assassin's and the queen said from between clenched teeth. "Bring me Tredorian and the Admirals Men."

Through the door the prince could hear his friend singing dreamily. "How can I help you, to say goodbye? It's okay to hurt, and it's okay to cry. Come let me hold you, and I will try. How can I help you, to say goodbye." Her voice wasn't of the same caliber as Asrai's or his mothers but she enjoyed singing he'd learned when she was bathing. She had said once it relaxed her because she knew no one would hear her. As he absorbed the words she'd sung he wondered if music could be prophetic.

Andreas stepped into Maggie's bedroom and smiled as he saw her. Maggie was indulging in one of her favorite relaxing pastimes. She absolutely loved to fill the tub with warm water and scented oils or bubbles and soak the fragrance into her creamy skin. "Now there's a sight to make a man glad he's alive." He said warmly as he let the door slide shut behind him.

"Andreas." Maggie's eyebrows arched in surprise and she tilted her head so she could view him more clearly. "I wasn't expecting you." Her mouth tilted up in a smile as he came closer.

"Am I unwelcome?" He queried in a soft voice kneeling down by the tub. She'd chosen an oil and through the water he could see her lush form warm and flushed with sensation.

"Never my dear." The lady told him lifting a hand and letting her fingers lightly stroke his cheek. "I simply wasn't aware you were planning on stopping in."

Andreas smiled, suddenly aware that he was actually nervous as well as extremely aroused by the sight of her. "I hadn't planned on it actually, but I was thinking of you and my thoughts naturally led me here." One hand cupped her cheek while the other gently tugged at a coppery curl.

Maggie looked up at him, acutely conscious of the fact that she was sitting nude in a tub of water before one of the most wonderful men she'd ever met. Her heartbeat seemed to escalate as his hands touched her and she could feel the rest of her body reacting to his presence. Andreas was the only man she'd known for a while now and she'd missed his body covering her own. "I am always glad to see you Andreas." She told him softly, her voice a bit huskier than usual. The hope that he wanted to make love to her felt like a flame but she didn't want to push him if that wasn't what he meant by this.

"I'm very glad to hear that." Andreas whispered trailing his fingers over the skin of her temple down to her sensitive neck. "Maggie have I told you…how very lovely you are?" He only hoped she still wanted him. It had been almost a month to the date since they'd last shared their bodies, since he'd been able to make love to her.

"You tell me all the time." She murmured. The hand brushing his cheek fell to his shoulder squeezing gently. "Your eyes are the greatest compliment you could give me." His hand moved to the base of her throat and gently stroked her collarbone and her eyes fluttered shut with overwhelming desire. "Ohh… Andreas…that feels…"

"Do you still wish to welcome me Maggie?" The prince asked leaning forward and brushing his lips over her forehead. "You told me when you forgave me that if I wished for more than talk that there would be more. As your friend, not the prince, may I ask you for more?" His mouth whispered against her cheek and the girl moaned slightly.

"Andreas, my dear friend." She forced her suddenly heavy eyelids open and looked at him. "I am willing to beg you to make love to me if that is what you want to hear. Is that the more you are asking me for?"

Andreas nodded and his lips sought her mouth in a fiery passionate kiss. One hand slid into her hair and the other into the water to squeeze her waist and pull her up towards him. Water sloshed against them both as in a burst of passion they clung to each other, their mouths fused together, arms wrapped tight in their embrace.

Finally Andreas pulled his mouth from hers and would have spoken but for Maggie pressing herself up to kiss him again. Sweet warm lips nibbled at his and he lost himself in the kiss again until another wave of water drenched his clothing and the rug. He pulled her closer and uttered a groan of protest as the side of the tub interfered with his intentions to feel her against him. With a gasp he pulled away and shook his head when she would have kissed him again. "No more bath for you my dear." He muttered huskily as he rose and lifted her out of the tub.

She was dripping wet and pale and beautiful and he wrapped his arms around her and ignoring the continued dampening of his clothes began to kiss her again. "Oh Maggie." He breathed, his mouth trailing down over her neck. "I hope you have the afternoon free?"

Maggie gave herself up to the feelings Andreas was igniting in her. She felt as if she'd go up in flames before his hands did more than hold her against him. Her fingers slid into his hair as he moved from her neck to her breasts. He was so wonderful, most men didn't pay much attention to a woman's breasts, but Andreas loved to touch hers. Now his mouth began kissing and his tongue licking over her nipples as his hands held her breasts to his mouth. "I'm all yours until it is time for court Andreas." She told him.

Andreas took his mouth from her creamy skin and pink nipples long enough to say clearly. "To Hades and gone with Court." He knelt in front of her, his hands at her waist and began kissing down her belly. "You deserve a day away from Court." He said between caresses.

"Ohhh…" Maggie moaned her appreciation of his mouth as he breathed hotly over the triangle of red curls between her thighs. His hands had slid from her waist to the globes of her behind and he squeezed and held her to him while she clutched at his shoulders helplessly.

Andreas concentrated on sliding his tongue over the hot little button of flesh and listening to his lover's cries of delight. He wanted to make up for his past distance. His Maggie deserved to be completely satisfied for her patience. His erection was pushing painfully against his trews and his clothes were damp and uncomfortable but he could wait. Right now it was more important, and infinitely more enjoyable to listen to Maggie's little sounds of passion.

Maggie could hear herself crying out mindlessly as Andreas' tongue flickered over her, teasingly and then more and more firmly, using his knowledge of her body to heighten her passion until it exploded. And an explosion was coming, soon, she could feel it gathering in her belly, hot and furious as his wicked tongue stroked her. She felt him press his mouth to her in an intimate kiss and moaned softly, knowing what he meant to do.

Andreas heard her moan and knew she was close. Maggie was so honest in her responses, she'd taught him a great deal about her body, and even a few things about his own, and he so enjoyed putting those lessons to good use. She went crazy when her clit was suckled gently. It was as if someone had put a match to Greek Fire. Teasingly he stroked his tongue through her nether lips and began to kiss her as if he would her mouth. With tender care he delved deeper between her soft curls and concealing lips and his mouth found her sensitive little fold of flesh.

The prince made an approving noise in his throat as Maggie parted her thighs for him slightly and he heard the damp sound of her juice soaked flesh moving. Slowly, so softly he began to suck her clit, not wanting to drive her over the edge immediately.

Maggie held onto Andreas' shoulders for dear life, she'd fall immediately were it not for his hands squeezing her rear and holding her up. "Oh Andreas…" She moaned. "Your mouth…sweet gods…your mouth!" His gentled suckling had become more and more firm until he was sucking her clitoris into his mouth and flicking his tongue over it within his warm lips. "Andreas!" Maggie felt her climax explode like fire from her belly through her body and shake her uncontrollably, her knees buckling. She sagged downward and Andreas gently eased her down, holding her to him.

She shuddered against him, feeling his arousal against her legs as he knelt back on his heels holding her. "Andreas…my dear." She tried to form words in her mouth but his hands were moving on her again and his mouth sought hers. Passionately he kissed her again and she tasted her juices on his lips.

Andreas was suddenly extremely conscious again of how hard he was and how naked Maggie was. Without a word he shifted her carefully and managed somehow to stand without letting go of her. Moving quickly to the bed he set her down and began to tear off his clothing.

Another set of hands joined his and the prince grinned as Maggie set to work on his trews while he pulled off his still damp shirt. Ridding himself of his boots and braies he felt her hands touching his chest. With a groan of need Andreas wrapped his arms around her again, crushing her breasts to his chest and fusing his mouth to hers. She was kneeling up on the bed, her hips meeting his and he groaned again in his throat as he finally felt her skin, her body meeting his. His hands moved over her back, down to her thighs, over her waist and up her ribcage to press and rub at her wonderful breasts.

Maggie knew she was breathing rapidly, gasping like a girl who'd never been with a man before and ignored her self-criticism. This was Andreas and she didn't have to hide who she was from him or his affect on her. She was aware of him pushing her down to the bed and covering her with his body. Arching herself up to him, she stroked her hands over his shoulders and down his back. He was hard against her, throbbing with heat and she moaned at the feel of his cock against her damp mound.

"Oh Maggie." Andreas gasped out. "I need you…now, I can't wait." But he didn't push her thighs apart to take her, instead he dropped his head to her breasts and began to kiss them again.

Maggie cried out wordlessly and held his head to her breasts, her hands fisting in his hair. "Oh, Andreas…please." She moaned. "Please, inside me, come inside me." She tried to part her thighs beneath his but his weight prevented her from moving.

"Yes." Andreas groaned his agreement and his knee slid between her legs, his lightly furred leg rubbing against her white thighs as he pressed against her. He felt her shifting beneath him and parting her legs even more, allowing him to rub against her fiery curls and wet slit. His cock throbbed almost painfully, his body knowing what it needed to attain its release. "Yes." He hissed out the word as he pushed up inside her, sheathing his aching sword in her hot wet slit, his arms sliding under her back to embrace her tightly against him.

Maggie uttered a long sighing moan of satisfaction and wrapped her arms around his neck, and drawing her legs up, wrapping them around his waist. "Ohhhh… Andreas!" She cried as he began to move in her. His breathing was harsh and hot against her neck and he was sawing back and forth in her igniting the flames all over again.

"Oh Maggie, Maggie!" He choked out her name, his embrace pushing her down onto him as he surged up into her, harder and harder, giving himself up to the feel of her. "Ahh… Maggie…Ahhh…" He could feel her clutching around him, heard her cries and ground his hips to hers feeling the convulsions rock her and then the same wonderful spasms clutch his balls tightly and then release a torrent of seed into her hot channel. He shook and pushed up into her again, not wanting to stop until he'd expelled every drop of seed like fire racing through him.

His lover kissed him softly on the shoulder and Andreas stirred himself enough to raise his head and look at her fondly. "You are a delight." He said with a smile. "And very tolerant of my failings. I was not as gentlemanly as I wished to be with you."

Maggie shook her head and smiled. Shifting her legs a bit she felt his spent sword slip out of her. "You are too hard on yourself my friend. I have no complaints at all."

"Let me see if I can do better this time." Andreas said huskily, his mouth beginning to trail kisses over her face and meeting her lips with the obvious intent of beginning another round.

TBC