The night that had come so swiftly was now just leaving and the moon and stars that once lit the sky were now fading, and allowing the rising sun to shine brightly on a country that had once shone as bright. Peddlers and craftsmen slowly awoke to the sun's early rays and began their daily work; hoping for a better tomorrow in the city. The enemy camps in the distance slept in, for they did not have any need to rise so early and they were sleeping off last night's feast.
One man that sat upon the city's high gates rubbed the night's sleep off his eyes and stood up a little straight. He tiredly looked out towards the enemy's camp and glared at them as if they could see him. Then becoming bored with the nothings going on there his attention turned to the side of a hill that seemed to have something move on it. His eyes strained to see what was on it. A man ran towards the gate with every amount of speed he had. For some strange reason the man on the gate delighted in the fact that someone was probably up most of the night, much like himself, but doing something much more strenuous. As the man running neared, the man on the gate called down to him,
"What is your need sir?" He asked.
"I have a message to the queen and king!" The man replied. "It is urgent!"
"What sort of message?" The guard became unsure of the man below and was very loyal to the people he was protecting. He had been taught all his life to hold a certain candle towards the crown and the country of which he loved.
"The troops from Borswan sir!"
From the time she fell asleep to the time she awoke, Christine was happy, despite everything that was happening around her; she was happy. Perhaps it was the fact that she had woke in her lovers arms, completely bare, or maybe it was because of what happened last night. A faint blush lit her cheeks as she recalled the events that occurred. But she knew it was because she knew that she was truly loved. That everything that she once thought about marriage, about love, and about leadership was wrong.
She woke in the same position that they had fallen asleep in and she felt a small smile come to her face as she looked at the man that lay beside her. For the moment, he looked peaceful in the early morning's light. His ragged and ravaged side was bare for all to see, but only she saw it. To her this was so much better than waking by herself with only maids to see to her needs. She wanted to see his face every morning, bare and open like this, to feel his body heat radiate to hers, to feel his arms hold her and keep her safe.
Carefully her hand reached out to touch his face. Her fingers ran over the bumpy and rough counters of his face and then down to his neck. She smiled at the tiny bruises that were there. Then to his arms which were muscular from fighting or something. His chest and stomach were taunt and well shaped. Suddenly she looked up to see his beautiful eyes flutter open and peer at her.
"Good morning." She whispered.
"It is a good morning." His lips curved upwards.
"I do not wish to rise." Christine watched him.
"Neither do I." He stated, and his arms brought her closer to him. "Perhaps we could stay here like this, for once."
"I would like that." She smiled and tilted her head for a kiss.
"Majesties!" A pounding came to the door and they both separated from the kiss, sighing in agitation.
"After this," Erik rose. "We are leaving for a week to ourselves."
"Sounds perfect." She let her eyes roam over his nude body shamelessly, and smiled suggestively when he caught her. "Perhaps you shall teach me even more about the joys of the flesh?"
He was upon her in an instant. His face was centimeters from hers and his eyes piercing into hers. Her breath caught with his stared and her heart raced, and she became aroused at the aggression he showed pouncing on her like that.
"We have a lifetime to learn what the flesh can do when it is joined by two." And he left her breathless with as quick as he came and went.
The pounding grew louder at the door.
"One moment!" Erik called to the people beyond the door way as they searched and put on the scattered clothes in the room.
"Majesties!" Another voice called. "It is urgent!"
"Just a moment!" Christine sighed as she signaled her husband to tie her dress strings.
"These are much simpler to untie." He mumbled, causing her to giggle. His own heart delighted in the fact that he caused her to make a schoolgirl noise like that.
Both, after dressing hurried to the door and swung it open to see all of Christine's advisors standing there along with a messenger. Their eyes all alert and wide at the door's opening, seeming completely oblivious to everything that had transpired during the night.
"Yes?" Christine questioned all the people standing before her.
"I have a message from the troops of Borswan." The messenger looked tired and nervous standing there.
"And he refuses to speak to any of us about the contents of the message." Jake gave a sigh.
"I was told to tell only the king and queen." The young man shifted his weight.
"The meeting room in fifteen minutes." Christine answered them.
"But…" Jake looked at her.
"The meeting room," She replied, "we shall discuss everything in the meeting room."
The advisors along with the messenger turned and walked towards the room that they were to go. The king and queen however went back into the bedroom and began to search for new clothes.
"What if it is bad news?" Christine said quietly as she began to put on her new dress. "If they do not come, what will happen?"
"We will try to negotiate," He answered. "Even though it will not help."
"True." She sighed, as she once again struggled with the laces. "Liren could not fight, but we would be able to hold them off for a few days."
"Your army is not strong enough for a few days." Erik began to tie the difficult laces for her. "Perhaps one day."
"The people would fight with everything they had." Her eyes narrowed. "Many wars were won with worse odds than ours."
"It depends on which side you are on." He tied the last lace, and turned her around. "I am not trying to be cruel, Christine. I am only trying to help you choose."
"I know." She nodded. "But I sincerely hope you are not suggesting surrendering to Plante, without a fight."
"I am telling you to keep your options open." His hands placed themselves on her shoulders.
"To surrender would be worse than fighting!"
"If you surrender," He looked at her calmly. "Plante would occupy Liren for only a little while and then we could take it again."
"How long is a little while?" She questioned. "The effects for a 'little while' have lasted for many years on Liren! I refuse to let the people give up hope when they are only beginning to regain it again!"
It was quiet for a bit until Erik spoke, "We should go to the meeting."
I got 10 reviews last chapter! You guys have no idea how happy that made me! Anyway thanks to me beta and every1 reading!!! Please review!
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