This story has a bit of canon and a bit of non-canon events thrown in here. I write what I write, y'all. It is what it is. I hope you enjoy it nonetheless. It's another long one.
Daphne and Thoren- Guarded Heart
The doors opened to the throne room of the palace in Domino. King Oritel and Queen Marion sat high on a pedestal, their thrones forming an ornate background against the seated monarchs. The newly corporal princess Daphne sat at her father's left. Usually her sister Bloom would take a seat next to Daphne but Bloom was off on another mission. Daphne wanted more than anything to be with her sister to make sure that she was safe, but her place was now here beside her parents.
Domino was under threat of attack from the Trix who had joined forces with another evil entity. It was honestly getting repetitive but the threat was still serious nonetheless. Oritel and Marion had called for reinforcements from the neighboring realms and many had answered their call. Daphne would fight alongside whoever came but at the moment, she was really missing being a non-corporal spirit that nobody could touch. Though she had been cursed and she was captive to Lake Roccaluce while under the curse, she was able to connect with Bloom. While their connection had remained strong, Daphne and Bloom knew that it was weakened.
Stuck in Domino, Daphne felt useless.
Men clad in dark red came marching into the throne room. They were the Paladins from Linphea and Daphne was there with her parents to greet the men who were sent to help Domino in their time of need.
A tall man with a strong build and dark wavy hair appeared at the front of the troops and dropped into genuflection in front of the royal family. A grin appeared on Daphne's lips, knowing that for coming to their aid, he need not bow for anyone. However, the gesture was appreciated as a sign of good faith.
"You may stand." King Oritel announced and the young man rose to his feet.
Placing his hands behind his back and holding his chest up high, the young man looked up to the royal family, his blue eyes piercing and staring from the king to the queen to Daphne. His eyes seemed to linger on the princess but maybe it only appeared that way because Daphne's eyes refused to leave the commander, even with dozens of men behind him.
"Your Majesty," the young man announced, "we have been sent in your time of need. It is an honor to serve you, Linphea, and the rest of the magical universe. We are at your mercy during our time here. We hope to be of great use and service during our tenure in your country."
"Thank you, Commander..." King Oritel sought for the commander's name.
"Thoren, Your Majesty. Commander and Leader of the Paladins."
"Thoren?" Daphne spoke, "As in the nephew of King Erendor of Eraklyon?"
"Indeed, Your Highness." Thoren turned his head to look up at Daphne.
"Why did you not come with the men of Eraklyon?" Daphne questioned.
"Because I have found my place with the Paladins. Eraklyon already has a commander in my cousin."
"And your people do not find this to be a conflict of interest?" Daphne raised a sculpted brow.
"No more than your people find your allegiance to Domino and your bond to Magix as a Nymph." Thoren replied.
Daphne looked the young man up and down, both intrigued and slightly offended at his forward tone.
"You and your men are welcome to use any of the training facilities during your time here. You will be housed with the men from Red Fountain. I hope that this will begin an advantageous and most agreeable relationship between Domino and Linphea." King Oritel said.
Thoren's eyes left Daphne before returning to the auburn haired king. Placing a hand on his chest, Thoren closed his eyes and bowed, the rest of the Paladins following suit. Thoren gave a small smile to the royal family before turning and leading the Paladins out of the throne room and to their lodgings.
Daphne watched as Thoren led his men out of the hall, the door shutting behind them, leaving her and her parents alone in the throne room once again. Slouching into her throne, Daphne looked over to her father and mother. She let out a sigh and leaned her head onto her hand, her elbow propped onto the arm rest.
"Is there something wrong, dear?" Marion asked as she looked over her husband to her daughter.
"Nothing. I just wish that there was more that I could do. I hate seeing other people parade in here when I cannot offer the same aid."
Marion gave a sympathetic sigh, "You know that your duty is here."
"My duty is to protect my people, mother." Daphne shot back.
"You are the next in line for the throne. You are needed here where you can be protected." Oritel countered.
"And what about Bloom? Could she not take my place?"
"You know that she is engaged to Prince Sky. She will become Queen of Eraklyon, giving up her title here for that one."
Daphne shot up from her throne and turned to look at her parents, "When the time comes, I will do what is right, not what you want and expect of me."
Turning on her heels, Daphne left the throne room and made her way down the long halls of the palace of Domino. She passed large windows and portraits of the monarchs that came before. She stopped in front of the portrait of her mother and father, feeling emotional as the thought of being a ruler entered her mind. It's not that she didn't want to rule and lead Domino, it's just that she knew she was so much more than that.
Daphne thought about what her portrait would look like. Would she look as serious as her father? Would she be painted along with her spouse? Would she even want a portrait commissioned for her reign? Everything seemed to pale in comparison for the fire that she had within her to be more than just a princess. What good is a portrait when there were people to protect?
"Is everything alright, Your Highness?"
Daphne turned around to come face to face with Thoren, the commander of the Paladins and the man that she had just lightly interrogated in the throne room.
"I thought that you were showing your men to their quarters?" Daphne asked.
"Is everything you say always a question?" Thoren chuckled as he held his hands behind his back. Everything about him looked so...official.
"I guess you could say that I am an inquisitive person." Daphne replied before turning back around.
"Rightfully so, Your Highness." Thoren nodded. "I trust that having foreign armies in your palace has not been a source of comfort to you."
"You are here to protect my family and the people of Domino." Daphne remarked as she looked over her shoulder.
She heard footsteps behind her and felt Thoren's large body inches away from her. He looked up at the portrait of Oritel and Marion.
"And who here protects you?" Thoren asked.
"Is that a threat, commander?" Daphne turned and glared at Thoren.
"Merely a question, Your Highness. I find that you are so fond of asking them that I thought that I would ask one as well."
"I can protect myself fine enough." Daphne huffed.
"'Fine enough' isn't exactly the most reassuring answer, Your Highness." Thoren chuckled.
"My powers strengthened those sixteen years that I spent trapped at the bottom of Lake Roccaluce as a spirit."
"So I have heard," Thoren smirked, "but you are no longer a spirit and you are now in a body that I understand has not been easy to navigate."
Daphne looked up at the towering Paladin and snarled, "Like I said, I can protect myself fine enough."
"I see." Thoren replied, "Well, if you should need any assistance, I am sure that Sky would be more than eager to protect you as the sister of his beloved fiance."
"So quick to offer up your cousin's troops? What about the Paladins?" Daphne crossed her arms across her chest.
"Sky is their prince and the king the minute that he says 'I do' to your sister. I am merely a commander. My orders come from the royal family of Linphea. I do not control where the Paladins come and go."
"I sense hostility in your voice, commander."
"You are a perceptive princess." Thoren's eyes hardened.
"Have I done something to earn this hostility?" Daphne asked.
Thoren smirked, "Not at all, Your Highness."
"Then why the tone?" Daphne rolled her eyes.
"I believe that I should be asking you the same question, Princess."
Daphne looked the tall man up and down, her eyes narrowing as she observed his chiseled face.
"I think that it is best that you join the rest of your men."
"I do not take orders from you." Thoren scoffed.
Daphne stepped up to Thoren, her nose centimeters away from his chest and her amber eyes glaring up into his cyan ones.
"I think that it is best that you join the rest of your men." Daphne repeated with force.
Thoren looked down at Daphne before he backed away and gave her a slow bow.
"I look forward to our next meeting, Your Highness." Thoren smirked before he turned around and walked back down the hallway towards the Paladin's quarters.
"Diletta, this is no use. I am not ready."
Daphne was in the ballroom practicing for her coronation in the next week. She had just managed relearning to walk in a physical body, dancing was a whole other obstacle.
King Oritel and Queen Marion were insistent that they still go through with the coronation and ball even under the threat of the Trix. They believed that it would give the people of Domino reason to celebrate and have fun during the difficult and scary time. However, Daphne would much rather be in the practice arena than the ballroom.
"Just feel the music, Daphne." Diletta calmly replied.
"What I feel like is an idiot." Daphne grumbled as she looked down at her feet while Diletta led in their waltz.
"Have some more confidence in yourself." Diletta giggled, "You are going to be fine."
"Not when I can barely tell my right foot from left."
Diletta stopped and sighed. She waved her hand and the music stopped.
"I think that is enough for the day."
"I am sorry," Daphne looked down at her feet, "I just feel guilty sitting here in the palace and preparing for a ball when my sister is out there fighting. I need to be with her. I have always been with her."
"She is going to be fine, she always is." Diletta put a hand on Daphne's shoulder, "You two are bonded and when she needs you, she will call for you and you will answer.."
Daphne ran her hands through her hair as she looked up at the ornate ceiling of the ballroom. She took in a deep breath and looked back at Diletta.
"Have you spent any time with the troops yet?" Diletta asked. "It has been over a week since they came. I would be having a field day with all of those big, strong, handsome..."
"Diletta!" Daphne exclaimed as she snapped her head to her friend in shock. She hoped that Diletta would not continue her thought.
"So have you?" Diletta raised a thin eyebrow.
"No," Daphne replied, "but I have had a conversation with the commander of the Paladins. He is quite annoying."
"Annoying?" Diletta giggled, "I find him to be quite attractive."
"He is until he opens his mouth." Daphne mumbled.
Diletta's giggles turned into a laugh. "He really must be something if he has caused you to think negatively of him."
"What do you mean by that?" Daphne asked.
"You are not one to harbor any form of negativity."
"I harbor plenty of negativity," Daphne kicked off her heels, "I am just good at not expressing it."
"Whatever you say, Daph." Diletta shook her head and laughed. "I am going to head to the dining room for lunch. Would you like to join me?"
"No thank you," Daphne looked at her golden haired friend, "I'm not hungry."
Diletta gave Daphne's hand a reassuring squeeze before she left the ballroom. Walking over to the music player, Daphne switched the CD in the player for something more fun and upbeat. She needed to let out some steam and if the royal court and her family expected her to dance, then she would dance for herself.
She turned up the music and the sound of drums and guitar filled the large ballroom, creating a stereo around her as she felt the music run through her. She was alone and she didn't worry about how clumsy she surely looked as she began hopping and dancing around the large ballroom.
The music coursed through her body as Daphne threw her head back and smiled. She moved her bare feet against the cold marble ballroom floor as she smiled a genuine smile for the first time in weeks. If this is what it truly felt like to have a body, she couldn't complain. And it made her even more angry at those witches who cursed her all those years ago.
"So her highness does dance."
Daphne froze in her dance, her body becoming paralyzed with fear as she brought her head down to look at the tall man leaning against the doorframe. He was out of his uniform and now wearing olive green trousers and a white shirt. The music continued to blare through the ballroom as Daphne stared at a smug Thoren.
Finding her senses, Daphne blinked before narrowing her eyes and walking over to the music player and turning off the music.
"Please," Thoren held up his hands, "don't stop on my account, Your Highness."
"Don't you have somewhere important to be?" Daphne asked through a groan.
"I was on my way to lunch," Thoren stood up straight from the doorframe, "but I heard loud music." Thoren walked into the ballroom and leaned against one of the polished marble columns that stood closest to Daphne.
"If you didn't want anyone to notice you," Thoren leaned towards Daphne, his voice deep and low, "you might have thought to shut the door."
Daphne huffed as she took out the CD and replaced it with the one that held the recordings of the royal dances.
"I needed to let out some steam." Daphne replied as vaguely as she could.
"Steam?" Thoren asked, "Is something bothering you?"
"You are right now." Daphne turned on the soft music. "Now if you will excuse me, I need to practice."
Thoren chuckled before pushing off of the column and grabbed Daphne's slender wrist.
"What are you doing?" Daphne asked with wide eyes filled with horror.
"You can't practice without a partner." Thoren answered as he pulled Daphne close to him.
Daphne looked up at Thoren, slightly embarrassed how close their bodies had become.
"If I needed a partner then I would have asked for one." Daphne whispered, her voice shaking. A phenomenon that was not lost on Thoren.
"Am I not suitable enough for you, Your Highness?"
"I just didn't peg you for the dancing type."
"I think that you made a lot of assumptions about me during our first meeting." Thoren chuckled as he began to move his feet from side to side.
"You were quite obstinate and rude which I found to be very annoying."
"We barely spoke."
"And in that time you managed to really get under my skin." Daphne scoffed.
"I think that we just got off on the wrong foot. It was a long journey and from what I gathered, you aren't too happy to be stuck in the palace." Thoren moved his hand onto Daphne's waist, allowing her to sway with him to the music.
"I just escaped captivity as Nymph at the bottom of a lake and now I feel that I am being held captive in my own home." Daphne sighed. "Then seeing the parade of foreign armies coming in just makes me feel more useless"
"And I am sorry that my bad attitude got in the way of that, I really didn't mean to take out my bad day on you, Your Highness. You have steam and I have steam as well." Thoren gave Daphne a small smile.
Daphne looked up at Thoren and found that his bright blue eyes were still piercing but no longer harshly stabbing into her. They were softer and captivating, as if they were caressing her in his gaze. She looked down his face and traced his cheekbones downed to his clenched jaw. His mouth was downturned and his nostrils were flared.
"What are you thinking about?" Thoren asked as his downturned mouth opened and flipped up into a small smile.
"Just how you aren't annoying me now."
"Well," Thoren scoffed, "I assume that is a good thing."
"It is." Daphne smiled.
"That's good," Thoren leaned in slightly, "because I much prefer it when you are smiling."
Daphne's smile fell as a blush appeared on her cheeks.
"And what is it that makes you smile, commander?"
"Have I not been smiling?" Thoren smirked.
"Only small ones to tease me." Daphne rolled her eyes. "You have made me smile and now I think that I should repay the favor."
Thoren pursed his lips, "Not much makes me smile."
"Is that why you are such a good commander."
"Who said I was a good commander?"
"I just assumed..."
"I think that we have concluded that when the both of us come to conclusions that we have been very wrong."
"So are you saying that you are not a good commander?"
"I am a great commander." Thoren teased.
Daphne took her hand off of Thoren's shoulder and smacked him in the chest.
"Ow," Thoren took his hand off of Daphne's waist to rub his pectoral muscle, "maybe they should put you in the field." Daphne rolled her eyes. "In addition to being a great commander, I must be a good dance teacher."
Thoren's eyes made his way down to his and Daphne's feet as they moved gracefully in time with the music. Daphne looked down and her mouth turned up into another small smile, proud and in disbelief that she really was dancing. Granted she was barefoot but she was dancing nonetheless.
"Now you owe me two smiles." Thoren whispered, bringing Daphne's attention back up to his face.
She released her hands from Thoren and their feet stopped moving. The music continued to play as Thoren and Daphne stood unwavering in front of each other.
"Thank you, commander." Daphne said as she stood up straight, her head up and her hands to her side.
"You are most welcome, Princess." Thoren gave her a small bow.
Daphne exhaled a breath that she had no idea that she was holding before turning on her heels and walking out of the ballroom. She didn't realize how hard her heart was beating until she stopped in the middle of the hallway to catch her breath, the feeling of Thoren's hands still burning on her body.
The crown felt heavy against her forehead as she walked down the stairs to the dance floor for the traditional first dance. She gripped her father's hand as she led her down to the cool marble floor. Daphne didn't know whether it was tradition for the King to walk down with their heir or if he did it so that she would not embarrass herself when she eventually fell down the stairs.
Daphne wanted to crawl into herself as she felt the eyes of everyone in the ballroom on her. She found her sister's calming gaze and gave her a small smile. The rest of the Winx were beside Bloom which made Daphne feel better that there were people who she was close to that had been invited. She didn't know what she would have done if it was just the royal court and the foreign armies that had been invited as part of their defense against the Trix.
Soon one pair of cyan eyes replaced another as Daphne scanned the room and saw Thoren standing in the crowd, his eyes fixed onto the newly crowned princess. He was dressed in a green military jacket and a maroon sash across his chest. The expression that he wore appeared different than it did when he came to Domino almost a month prior. They had gotten off to a rocky start but after an impromptu dancing lesson, Daphne and Thoren became closer. Sparing in the training arena, hiding out in the library so that Daphne could vent to him about the preparations for her coronation all while writing Bloom letters advising her on her next steps to defeat the Trix.
Daphne certainly felt some sort of warm affinity to the young man but she knew that their relationship was merely professional teetering on the edge of a possible political friendship.
King Oritel led his daughter to the middle of the dancefloor where he placed a hand softly on her waist and another in her palm.
"Relax, honey." Oritel whispered into his daughter's ear.
Daphne closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she reopened them and gave her father a soft smile. The music began to play from the orchestra and Daphne felt her feet begin to move with the music. She was thankful that her father was a sturdy man as he held her steady when she felt herself begin to wobble. The sound of her father's breathy chuckles eased Daphne's nerves and before she knew it, the dance was over.
The ballroom erupted into applause before King Oritel released Daphne from his grasp and made a speech. As her father spoke, Daphne's eyes couldn't help but to be drawn to the tall Paladin in green. He gave her a soft smile, but not the kind that she owed him. He was only half smiling at her for her sake, not because she made him happy.
Music began to fill the ballroom again and so did the people in attendance as they began to partner up. Daphne walked off of the dancefloor and made a beeline to her sister who she had not seen in what seemed like forever.
"Bloom!" Daphne called out to her little sister.
Bloom turned away from her friend and pulled her sister into a hug.
"I've missed you so much, Daphne." Bloom pulled away from the hug to give her blonde sister a wide smile.
"I've missed you too. You know that I wish that I could be out there with you." Daphne looked past Bloom's shoulder to the Winx and the Specialists who had joined them, "All of you."
"I think that we have been able to handle ourselves out there." Stella smiles at the new princess.
"I know you have and I have been so proud of all of you. I still feel like I am missing out." Daphne sighed.
"Though I assume that you have found something else to occupy your time." Bloom gives Daphne a wink, "Or should I say someone?"
"What do you mean?" Daphne's brow furrowed in confusion.
"That man in green has been staring at you the whole ceremony," Bloom gestured her head towards Thoren, "it's as if he would burst into flames if he took his eyes off of you."
Daphne's cheeks turned a light rosy color as she did her best to suppress the heat that appeared on her face. She jumped when she felt a hand tap her shoulder. Turning around, she saw Thoren standing straight, his hands behind his back and a small smile on his lips.
Raising a fist to his mouth, Thoren cleared his throat before directing his attention back to Daphne, "Would you give me the honor of sharing this dance with me, Your Highness?"
Daphne's heart began to race and the butterflies in her stomach took flight, "I...I would like that very much."
Daphne placed a hand in Thoren's before he led her to the dancefloor where they prepared themselves for the music to start. It was a soft melody that Daphne was thankful for (few opportunities to trip and make a fool of herself).
As if Thoren were reading her mind, he bent his head and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, I'll hold you up if you start to fall."
"Commander..."
"I saw you stumble when you danced with your father." Thoren remarked.
Daphne shut her lips and narrowed her eyes in a glare causing Thoren to respond with a chuckle. If only he would laugh or smile when she had intended for him to, not after he teased her.
The couple began to move through the ballroom with the other couples on the dance floor. Daphne felt the music move through her body as Thoren took the lead during the slow and soft dance. She became conscious of the way that his hand felt on her waist and how his chest was so close to hers. She looked up into his eyes and found herself once again becoming lost in the striking blue color that contrasted so beautifully with his tanned skin and dark hair. Diletta was right, he was really nice to look at. And after spending more and more time together, she found that Thoren was really nice to be around. He was just...really nice.
Thoren spun her around the dance floor and Daphne felt as light as a feather. Time seemed to stop and everything around them seemed to disappear. Even her sister's red hair disappears from her sight. The music began to come to an end and Daphne couldn't tear her eyes away from Thoren. Something began to pull her closer to him but she was brought back to reality when there was a sudden thud on the hard marble.
Daphne spins around, tearing her eyes away from the Paladin to see her sister passed out on the floor. She springs out of Thoren's arms and throws herself onto the floor. People begin to crowd around until her parents demand that more space be given.
"Bloom!" Daphne hears Sky call out, "Daphne what happened? What's wrong?" Sky asks in a frenzied panic.
"She gave away part of her Dragon Flame to restore the magic of the Winx. She is weak now but it was the only way." Daphne did her best to calmly explain but her eyes held worry as she looked down at her unconscious sister.
"How did...?" Sky looked up at Daphne.
"She asked me how. I didn't think that this would happen. What is important is that she rests. Take Bloom to her room, I will be up there shortly to make sure that she will be okay." Daphne commanded as she looked across Bloom's body towards Sky.
Before Sky could utter another word, there was a loud blast that sent the already panicked room into a chaotic frenzy. Daphne looked up to see a group of vicious Fire Eaters.
Daphne and the rest of the Winx waste no time in transforming. Thoren yells for his men to prepare themselves. Sky picks up Bloom and heads towards the nearest exit but is soon faced with a Fire Eater. The Fire Eater attacks but before it is about to strike down Sky, Thoren appears to block the attack.
Daphne fights off The Fire Eaters, trying to keep an eye on Sky and Bloom. She sees Thoren block the attack on her sister and her fiance. Daphne smiles. Great, she owes him another smile. However, it falls when she sees a woman that she knows is never up to any good. Diaspro.
There is a disagreement but it comes to a quick close when out of nowhere a Fire Eater strikes Sky down. Thoren is now in charge of getting Bloom to safety and now all of Daphne's faith rests in the hands of the commander of the Paladins. He promised to keep Domino safe and now she was holding him at his word.
But now that idiot was following Diaspro.
Daphne groaned as he watched Thoren follow Diaspro out of the ballroom, following them as she gained a way out of the ballroom. Looking down the hall, Daphne's eyes widened when she knew exactly where they were going.
"Girls!" Daphne calls out, "Follow me! And bring those Fire Eaters with you while you are at it."
"What?!" Aisha calls out, "Are you insane?!"
"Trust me!"
Daphne takes down the hall and down a small staircase that leads to below the palace. Beneath the palace sat the Vortex of Flame, the place that Diaspro was leading Thoren with his sister cradled in his arms. Entering the room with the vortex, Daphne watched in horror as Thoren argued with Diaspro.
"I don't know who you are but I am not throwing Princess Bloom into a pit of fire because you tell me to."
"It is the only way and I know that this will help. Now throw her in."
"I don't take my orders from you." Thoren shot back. Daphne smirked remembering when he told her the same thing almost a month prior.
"Throw her in before I do it myself!" Diaspro growled.
Thoren glared at the young blonde princess before he turned around with Bloom cradled in his arms. Daphne gasped when she saw Thoren fall to the ground, blood spilling from his head as he landed on the ground with a dull thud. Amber eyes began to fill with tears as she looked at Thoren's body crumpled on the floor.
She watched as his blood began to pool around his head, his dark brown locks becoming wet with his thick blood. However, Daphne was shocked back to the situation when she saw Diaspro push Bloom's body into the vortex. Daphne screamed out and blasted Diaspro with all the power she could muster. Diaspro flew back and hit the wall before slumping down to the floor. Before Daphne could deliver another blow, Diaspro disappeared leaving Daphne in the room with a bleeding Paladin and a swirling vortex of flame.
"Get those fucking Fire Eaters into the vortex!" Daphne screamed at the Winx who had just entered the room. The Winx wasted no time in leading the Fire Eaters to their demise.
Daphne stared into the vortex as tears fell from her eyes. She couldn't lose Bloom just when they had been reunited. She couldn't lose her within thirty seconds of possibly losing someone that she had...grown very attached to.
The vortex began to rumble and Daphne rose to her feet and shielded her face as the heat from the vortex began to fill the room. Out of the bright light, Daphne could see a figure rising up. Squinting her eyes, Daphne's tears ceased when she saw her sister. Alive and stronger than ever.
Bloom floated down to her feet and Diaspro ran over to her sister and pulled her into a tight hug.
"I thought I lost you!" Daphne exclaimed as new tears began to fill in her eyes. Not from sadness but from the relief that washed over her body.
"I think that the Trix need to learn that they can't defeat the Winx so easily." Bloom smiled at her sister.
Daphne cried as she pulled Bloom into another tight hug.
"Daphne." Bloom sighed as she pulled away, "Thoren..."
Daphne spun around and saw the Paladin commander still lying on the floor. The puddle of blood becoming bigger and the deep red staining the marble floor. She ran over to him and sank down next to him. She grabbed his hand and felt a faint small pulse from his wrist beat against her fingers. She owed him a fourth smile as her lips turned up into a wide smile of relief when she discovered that he was still alive.
"Please," Daphne pleaded to the Winx and Specialists, "help him."
Blue eyes fluttered open as a groan escaped from soft lips. Daphne turned her head and gasped when she saw Thoren's bright blue eyes.
"Thoren..." Daphne grabbed Thoren's hand.
Thoren reached up with his free hand and grabbed the back of his head. His hand hit gauzy fabric.
"What happened? I feel like I have been knocked off a speeding levabike." Thoren chuckled.
Daphne' amber eyes once again filled again with tears of relief. She squeezed Thoren's hand tighter as the tears began to spill onto her cheeks.
"What's wrong?" Thoren asked.
"I didn't know you were ever going to wake up. Bloom said that there was no guarantee that you would make it even after she healed you." Daphne explained through tears.
"Bloom is alive? Is she okay?"
"You were just knocking at death's door and you are worried about Bloom?" Daphne gave Thoren a breathy laugh.
"Of course. She is the princess and I was sworn to protect Domino." Thoren ran his thumb over Daphne's hand, "And she is your sister. I know how close you two are. You would be a wreck if you lost her but me? I am just another commander in a long list of insignificant commanders."
Daphne's eyes widened and her tears stopped flowing as she looked down at Thoren. How could he think of such a thing?
"Thoren-"
"How long have I been knocked out?" Thoren didn't mean to interrupt Daphne but he did not hear her.
"Three days." Daphne informed the brown haired Paladin.
"And you are still in your coronation dress?"
Daphne looked down and blushed, "I suppose that I am."
"Have...have you been here the whole time?" Thoren looked up into Daphne's warm amber eyes, glistening from the tears and the moonlight that hit her face from the window.
"I...I suppose I have." Daphne stammered as she gave Thoren a shy smile.
Thoren smiled up at Daphne. Had she really made him smile? Had he hit his head harder than they thought? Thoren retracted his hand out of Daphne's much to her disappointment. He pushed up on the soft mattress as he propped himself against the pillows.
"Thoren, you have to stay-"
Daphne's protests were cut short when she felt Thoren's lips on hers. She couldn't say that she wasn't surprised but then again, her initial thought of him when he came to Domino was that he was forward so she should not be surprised. But what did surprise her was the fact that she enjoyed feeling his lips on hers.
Daphne closed her eyes as she felt herself melt into Thoren's warm and soft lips. His hand reached up and began to card through her tangled blonde hair from not brushing it in three days.
Pulling away, Daphne looked into Thoren's soft blue eyes as she caught her breath.
"I think that I should leave you to rest." Daphne sighed, "I think that you hit your head harder than we thought."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have kissed you, Your Highness."
"So you do realize that you kissed me?" Daphne questioned, her brow furrowed as she stared down at Thoren from her chair next to his bed.
"I do," Thoren answered, "and I am sorry."
"Why are you sorry?" Daphne asked.
"Because it was not appropriate."
"And did you mean to kiss me?"
"Do you only talk in questions?" Thoren chuckled. Daphne laughed again as she played back their initial meeting in her head.
Returning to the subject at hand, "Did you?"
Thoren cleared his throat, "I did."
The corner of Daphne's lips curled up and her lips stretched across her straight, white teeth into a smile.
"Then do not be sorry, commander." Daphne smiled as she stood up from her spot at Thoren's bedside and walked towards the door.
"Are you leaving?" Thoren asked.
"I know that you are awake and alive." Daphne looked over her shoulder, "I need to change out of these clothes and shower. You need to rest and heal."
Thoren laughed as he watched Daphne leave the room, hoping that what had just happened wasn't a dream.
Whenever there was time in her day, it was spent with Thoren. Daphne once felt that her place was with Bloom and the Winx in the battlefield but now, all Daphne could think about was making sure that Thoren was safe. She felt guilty that her mind was consumed by the strong Paladin instead of the safety of her people. Of course she thought about the people of Domino but everytime she closed her eyes or got a moment to herself, all she could think about was Thoren.
When with Thoren, Daphne would walk with him around the courtyard of the palace, stopping when he would feel dizzy or tired. Bloom told Daphne that it might take some time to return back to normal, but she had faith that he would be back to his normal self. It had been two weeks since the attack and Thoren grew stronger day by day.
Daphne and Thoren were walking in the courtyard after dinner, following the path of the labyrinth. Daphne's arm was snaked into Thoren's as they walked side by side.
"You know that I haven't felt dizzy in a week?" Thoren chuckled.
"I know," Daphne looked up at him, "but I don't want you to fall."
"I remember when I was the one making sure that you didn't fall." Thoren replied.
It seemed like ages ago since Thoren was teaching Daphne to dance. She missed spending time with Thoren in the empty ballroom and the library.
"I think that my balance has improved but I am still getting used to everything else about my body." Daphne shrugged.
"Like what?" Thoren asked, stopping and turning to face Daphne.
Daphne took a deep breath and looked up towards Thoren, "Like how my stomach seems to flip when I am near you. Or my heart clenches when I see you smile at me. Bloom tells me that she has these same physical feelings when she sees Sky and tells me that I must be in love with you. But I don't know if-"
"What?" Thoren looked down at Daphne.
"I think that I am in love with you." Daphne blushed, "But I cannot know for certain, I have never felt this way about somebody and maybe I am just sick. I haven't been sick in over sixteen years so I do not remember the sensation." Daphne laughed. "But everytime I kiss you I feel as though I am being consumed by flame so I think that Bloom's diagnosis might be correct."
"Your Highness, I...I..."
"I understand if you do not feel the same. In the stories that I have read, I am familiar with the concept of unrequited love and I feared that I would find myself in the same situation." Daphne looked down.
"No," Thoren quickly turned, unhooking his arm from Daphne's so that he was standing in front of her, "I just wanted to say that I love you too. I thought that I made that clear when I kissed you the night that I woke up?"
"You never kissed me again and I didn't want to initiate another kiss in fear that you only kissed me in your confusion. You did hit your head pretty hard and you never mentioned it again." Daphne giggled.
Thoren chuckled and ran his hand through his dark hair, his head tilting up towards the moon.
"I want to kiss you every time that I am near you but it would not be appropriate to do so. You are the crowned princess and I am just a commander in a foreign army. I have no claim to anything and I..."
Thoren was cut off when he felt Daphne's lips on his. She held the back of his neck, her pale fingers weaving through his dark hair. Thoren's tense body began to relax as he slowly wrapped his arms around Daphne's slim waist. He pulled her close to him and enjoyed the feeling of her soft lips on his.
Pulling away from the kiss, Daphne looked up and gave Thoren a smile. Another one to add to her growing debt of smiles that she owed him.
"Stay with me." Daphne whispered.
"What?"
"When the Trix are defeated and the Paladins go back to Linphea, I want you to stay here. In Domino. With me." Daphne looked up into Thoren's bright blue eyes.
"I would have to talk it over with Queen Rachel." Thoren replied.
"You would stay here with me?" Daphne asked.
Thoren ran his hand through Daphne's long blonde hair, "I would. I love you, Princess Daphne of Domino."
Thoren and Daphne were in her private library sitting at one of the large wooden desks. Books were piled around them as they looked up information that they could relay to the Winx and the Specialists as they fought against the Trix and Selina in the Legendarium world. Daphne was scanning through stories that she would read as a child to find the connections between the legends that the Winx would counter in their fights against the Trix.
"I can't find anything!" Daphne huffed as she shut yet another book.
Thoren stood at the opposite end of the table, his hands leaning against the wooden desk. He looked down at a large book and found that he was meeting the same conclusion that Daphne was reaching. There was nothing that they found that could be of any help.
"We will find something." Thoren gave Daphne a small reassuring smile.
Daphne stood up and wrapped her arms around herself before pacing back and forth.
"I just worry that they won't come back and it will all be my fault because I couldn't help them. If I can't be with them fighting, I need to do all I can here to help."
Thoren sighed before he walked over to Daphne and gripped her shoulders, "They will be fine. With or without our help. I have never met a more resilient group in all of my years. They are smart, resourceful, and strong. You worrying does not help anyone."
"I almost lost Bloom once..."
"And she came back stronger than ever before."
"And I almost lost you. Seeing you on the marble floor. There was so much blood. I see it in my dreams and I don't ever want that to happen to anyone ever again." Daphne shuddered as she remembered Thoren's unconscious body on the floor the day of her coronation.
Thoren was now healed and it now had been months since her coronation but the image of Thoren in a pool of his own blood became the inspiration for the nightmares that would occasionally plague her at night.
It had been a common occurrence for Daphne to sneak to Thoren's private commander quarters when she woke up sweating and gasping for breath after the nightmare. She needed to know that he was still okay and she longed for the comfort of being wrapped in his arms as she fell asleep.
"You aren't going to lose me. At least not anytime soon." Thoren tucked a strand of Daphne's blonde hair behind her ear.
"You can't promise me that." Daphne sighed as she looked down to the ground.
"You are right," Thoren placed a finger to Daphne's chin to lift her head so her gaze now met his, "I cannot promise that but I did hear back from Queen Rachel and I can promise you that I will be by your side until the day that you send me away."
"You're staying?" Daphne's eyes glimmered with hope and joy.
"I am." Thoren smiled.
Daphne jumped up into Thoren's arms and wrapped her arms around his strong back in a tight embrace. Tears of joy threaten to fall from her eyes. Thoren was staying and he was staying with her.
"I would never send you away." Daphne whispered into Thoren's ear.
Thoren pulled away from Daphne, "You never know. You could always find me annoying again."
Daphne giggled as she looked up at Thoren and placed a kiss on Thoren's lips. Thoren wrapped his arms around Daphne's waist and pulled her close to him. Feeling the small fire in her body grow larger, Daphne began to unbutton her aquamarine cardigan.
"What are you doing, Daphne?" Thoren asked between breaks in their kiss.
"I am so hot." Daphne replied as she ripped the unbuttoned cardigan off of her body.
"Is everything alright?"
"Yes," Daphne returned her lips to Thoren's, "I think that this might be a new body thing. I am hot and there is a tightness between my legs."
Thoren froze in place and his hands stopped roaming along Daphne's body. Should he continue given her remark?
"Daphne..."
"Bloom told me how to solve this problem. She said that I am craving-"
"Daphne are you sure? That you are sure that this is what you want and what it is that you are feeling?"
"Yes," Daphne replied, "I know what it is that I am craving and the mechanics behind it. Thoren, I want you and I want you now."
Thoren returned his lips to Daphne's this time deeper and stronger than he had ever kissed her. He had loved her before he wanted her, never thinking that she would have wanted him in the way that he wanted her. As he held her in his bed as nightmares plagued her nights, Thoren desperately wanted to run his hands over her body and would find himself growing hard under the sheets.
Now, Thoren was touching Daphne and growing hard because she wanted him. She wanted him to touch her, to kiss her lips, jaw, neck, and anywhere he could get his lips.
Daphne's fingers began to fumble with the buttons on her blue top as she felt her body becoming hotter and hotter pressed up to Thoren's body. Her shirt opened up and Thoren's lips trailed down Daphne's neck and began peppering kisses on her chest and the top of her breasts.
Thoren gripped Daphne's waist and lifted her onto the large wooden desk. Daphne waved her hand over the desk and the books began to levitate and return back to where they came from on the shelf.
"I love you so much." Daphne moaned as she ran her hands through Thoren's thick hair.
Thoren's hands began to roam up Daphne's legs and landed on the top of her thighs. Daphne reached down and placed her hand over Thoren's and brought it further up her thigh. He felt the soft fabric of her skirt that paled in comparison to the softness of her skin. Daphne led Thoren's hand closer to her warm center and her body began to shudder under his touch.
"Are you okay?" Thoren asked as he held his hand still.
"It's just the first time that I have been touched."
"We can stop." Thoren said.
"No," Daphne placed a soft kiss on his lips, "I want you to touch me."
Thoren's hand slowly moved up to the heat between Daphne's legs. His mind began to spin as he felt her damp sex through the soft cloth of her underwear. Grabbing the fabric, he moved it to the side to place his fingers on the bundle of nerves. She threw her head back and moaned. His fingers began to slowly move over her clitoris and her moans grew louder and her hands moved from on top of Thoren's and to his arms.
"Thoren...don't stop." Daphne sighed.
Bringing his back down to Daphne's chest, he used the hand not on her clitoris to pull down her bra. He moved his mouth from the top of her plump breasts to her nipple. He began to suck and looked up to see her face contorting into expressions of pleasure.
Daphne's grip tightened on Thoren's hard arm muscles as he continued to move his fingers over her hot and swollen clitoris. She moved her hands down his arms until she removed them and then placed them on the waistband of his trousers. She began to tug at the belt loops and Thoren removed his hands from Daphne to unbutton and zip down the zipper to his pants.
Reaching inside of his pants, Daphne gripped his hardened cock. Thoren jolted back as he felt her hand grab him and a hiss escaped through clenched teeth.
"Sorry." Daphne squeaked.
"It's just sensitive. No need to apologize."
"I just hope I'll be able to take it in me."
Thoren looked down at Daphne quizzically.
"Has sex changed in the past sixteen years?" Daphne giggled.
"No," Thoren exhaled, "it's just still unbelievable that you want-"
Daphne interrupted Thoren with a kiss before pulling Thoren closer to her. She took Thoren's hard member in her hand and rubbed the tip along her slick entrance. Thoren replaced Daphne's hand with his own. Placing a kiss on her lips, Thoren slowly moved his hips and his hard cock pushed through her tight entrance.
Her lips tightened to stop the yell that yearned to escape from her mouth. She found the sensation to be painful but she had been told during her sexual education before she had been cursed that the pain would hopefully subside.
Thoren stilled as his hips became flushed to Daphne's. He exhaled before looking down at Daphne and gave her a smile. She gave him one in return before she nodded at him for him to continue. He moved his hips back and pulled out until he reached the tip. He then slowly moved back in as he held onto Daphne's hips. The table slid as he pushed into her and he did everything in his power to keep her close to him.
"Does that feel okay?" Thoren asked through a moan.
"Y...y...yes." Daphne gasped as she felt Thoren begin to slowly pump in and out of her. "Do I feel alright?"
"You feel amazing, Princess." Thoren replied.
"Better than-"
"I haven't...been...with any-"
Daphne reached up to press her lips to Thoren's as he began to pump in and out of Daphne, moving his hips faster and faster. She knew that she was giving her virginity to Thoren but she wouldn't have imagined that he was giving his to her. He was attractive and she had no idea why he hadn't found a woman to share this experience with. However, Daphne felt comfort in the fact that they were both experiencing sex for the first time together. She felt her body relax and the pressure of living up to previous partners leave her body. She was free to be herself.
The table legs began to squeak along the hard marble floors as Daphne wrapped her arm around Thoren's back as she used her other hand to hold herself steady as Thoren slammed into her.
Daphne huffed as she looked into Thoren's lidded eyes. His blue eyes held her gaze tenderly as he moved in and out. Feeling the fire in her come to a fever pitch, Daphne threw her head back and yelled out in ecstasy. She was so glad that this was a private library and people rarely ventured over to this part of the palace.
Feeling Daphne's sex clench on his throbbing cock, with a groan Thoren released into Daphne. He placed his forehead against Daphne's as he breathed through his orgasm. She wrapped her arms around him and held him as he slowly came down from his high. Daphne never wanted to let ago and when he eventually pulled out, she felt like she had lost that feeling of being complete. She felt empty.
"I didn't mean to-" Thoren began as he took in a deep breath. He looked down and saw a small bit of his white cum fall out of Daphne.
"Marry me." Daphne exhaled as she interrupted Thoren.
"What?" Thoren looked at Daphne, his thick eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Be mine. Marry me. Become my king." Daphne raised a hand to cup Thoren's cheek.
"I thought that I was supposed to ask you?" Thoren chuckled.
"You can ask me next time." Daphne smirked, "So..."
"Of course, Daphne." Thoren pulled Daphne into a deep and passionate kiss. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Months passed and the Trix had finally been defeated. It was a bright and sunny morning in Domino and Daphne was preparing to walk down the aisle to meet the man who was about to be her husband.
She and Thoren had planned on a longer engagement but with the Winx and Specialists defeating the Trix, they thought that there was no better time to marry each other than now. The universe was safe yet again and everything was right in the world.
Daphne paced as she waited for the ceremony to start. Her father was waiting with her along with her sister and the rest of the Winx who served as her maid of honor and bridesmaids respectively.
"What if he doesn't want to-"
"Then he will have us to deal with." Bloom placed a hand on her worried sister's arm, "But he is going to be there waiting for you with a large smile across his face or we will take you back and we will try again until he smiles."
Daphne gave her younger sister a soft smile as she tried to think of the positives. Daphne loved Thoren and Thoren had told her repeatedly that he loved her too. After their moment of passion in the library and her proposal, Thoren and Daphne were inseparable. They would sneak kisses in the courtyard, glance over towards each other during meals, and Daphne would escape her large room to join Thoren in his. A commander sneaking to a princess' room was out of the question but tonight he would share her bed as her husband and the future king of Domino.
The music began to play as Musa waved her hand and the ceremony began. The Winx girls partnered up with their respective boyfriends as they made their way down the aisle. Stella and Brandon led the procession followed by Aisha and Nex, Tecna and Timmy, Musa and Riven, Flora and Helia, and then Bloom and Sky who were the maid of honor and best man respectively.
"Are you ready?" King Oritel asked as he wove his arm through his daughter's.
Daphne looked up at her father before the doors opened. She looked down the aisle and saw Thoren standing there waiting for her with the largest smile on his face. That smile made up for the smiles that he had given her. They were even and Daphne relaxed with an deep exhale.
"I'm ready."