Private Tales The Broken Crown

[Alre Castielle]

He shrugged. "That's just something we'll have to deal with."

Alre didn't think it would be that much of a problem. It wasn't as though the Anirians were constantly hunting for Elves around them. As far as he knew there was no law against her people, at least not anymore. It was the mobs they had to worry about, not the law.

"Put the scarf on." He told her. "It's the best I can do for now."

Aside from the hat. "We're not staying in this city."

Not longer than sundown, he was confident of that. They weren't going to find and Inn, they weren't searching for anything. They would go in, buy some supplies, then head out on the Eastern road towards home.

That was it.

 

[Mariana]

She lifted it above her head and spread it over her curls and auburn hair...and pointed ears.

"Will I still turn heads?" A pucker of her lips and a wink. She even laughed at herself. At least he was distracting her so she didn't feel as nervous. The weight of entering this city where they blatantly hated elves. A glance down at her bare arms, where the tattoos swirled around her skin.

"Ready?"

She offered her arm for him to take. Really, she just wanted his arm. She'd feel a little...safer that way. Even though she knew when it came down to it, she'd be able to defend herself with her own magic. And the stolen one if need be.

 

[Alre Castielle]

"Probably." Alre said as he fell into step besides her.

The gangplank was thrown down, the city before them coming into clear view as the ship was slowly moored to the docks. Alre had his things tossed over his shoulder. A bag of gold, a sword, and little more to his name besides that.

It would be another week before they reached home, but before that came they would have to cross through another sort of danger.

As Averey stepped in besides him Alre glanced over towards her. His gaze swept over the arm that she offered, and for a brief moment he hesitated. A breath filled his lungs, and then before she could do anything at all he reached over.

His fingers grazed gently over her, and then softly dug into her backside. They squeezed against her rear for only a second, his lips quirking into a smirk before he drew up her body and looped through her arm. "Ready."

Alre said, his shoulders squaring as he fully expected a strike across the face.

 

[Mariana]

Cobalt eyes widened in surprise as he drew closer. As his fingers brushed over her skin and clothing. She was surprised at the small spark of fire that she felt in her veins along with the confusion. The trail of heat of that hand as it drifted.

What was he

A gasp left her throat and then a sputter. She couldn't stop instincts as she saw that cocky grin of his and that glint in his eyes. Her hand raised fast like a viper, palm widened to slap it across his face and that smug grin.

She'd NEVER been violent before she met him. He had a way of drawing it out of her...among other things.

 

[Alre Castielle]

Worth it.

"Rude." Was the only response that Averey got as he reached up and touched his cheek which had now turned a glowing pulsating red.

Pain lanced through his face of course. He wasn't some sort of immortal being capable of ignoring the hate that sprouted from her strike. Yet he had self control enough that he could look at her as if he were a wounded kitten.

Even if it was an utter lie. "Seems like an over reaction for taking your arm."

Alre said as he reached up to rub his face.

Fuck. That really did sting.

 

[Mariana]

Her hand stung and tingled. She shook it out even as a couple of the crew whistled in their direction. She ignored them.

"Oh?" She huffed, heart hammering in her chest. A mixture of anger, surprise, and something she couldn't figure out rushed through her veins.

"I didn't realize humans were so terrible with anatomy these days. Maybe I should give you a lesson?" Her hips would push into him as she would reach around him, hand finding the curve of his own rear as she took a fistful.

"Ass." Her other hand would reach up, fingers going to wrap around his arm with a squeeze. Hips would press against him, harder this time. "Arm."

 

[Alre Castielle]

Alre didn't miss a beat. "Oh, I'll remember that for tonight."

Then, before Averey had a chance to respond the young Prince swept the two of them down the gangplank and onto the docks of the Anirian city.

They were almost immediately greeted with a large crowd milling about, dozens upon dozens of people roaming about. Ships were being loaded, passengers were boarding, and there was a general sense of commerce and business.

It was the perfect crowd to disappear into.

"We find a stable." He said as he leaned into Averey, tugging her a bit closer as a patrol of Anirians Guardsmen passed ahead of them.

 

[Mariana]

Even with a scarf on her head, she knew she looked...moved different than humans. There was always a certain grace about elves. A lightness of feet. A healthiness, smoothness, and almost glow to the skin.

At least the markings helped to distract from that feature.

She tried to slouch like humans typically did. Tried not to let her fingers go up to adjusting the scarf. THe sensitive points of her ears keenly aware of the material over them. And her extra hearing caught the murmurings of those they past. But so far? No one was really paying attention to the pair.

Her keen-sight looked ahead, over the heads of people as they wove along the cobbled streets. Then she saw the wooden sign alit by the flickering torches.

A small nudge into the king's side.

"There. Stables." A tip of her chin and they were moving through the crowds in that direction. There was a bored looking young woman at the entrance. Blonde-hair back in braids. She didn't even look up as the pair stopped in front of her, too engrossed in some sort of gossip column.

 

[Alre Castielle]

Oh good. The faster they got out of here the better.

Alre gently followed Averey's motions with quick steps, heading towards the girl sitting at the stable and shifting his pack so it was a bit more comfortable. He shot his companion a quiet look, then cleared his throat as they approached.

"Excuse me." He tried to sound as Anirian as possible.

"We need two horses, and a pack horse." The girl lazily looked up for a moment, opening her mouth. "Now."

He slid two gold onto the small pedestal besides her.

The girl's mouth practically fell open, and she quickly nodded her head. Alre knew that one gold was enough to cover everything he asked for, but the second gold would go into the girls pocket and keep her quiet.

"Yes sir!"

She said as she jumped up and practically ran to fulfill his request.

 

[Mariana]

Averey was too nervous being in the open. Being in the middle of Anirian territory with nothing but a scarf over her head. In a way, she'd almost been grateful for Alre's actions on the deck just before they'd left. It had distracted her enough from her nerves. Though, she doubted he'd done it with altruistic intentions.

Luckily for her, they didn't have to wait long. The blonde girl returned, leading two black horses and a third, white one. Smaller. Meant as a pack horse.

"Is that all sir?" She asked and handed off the reigns. Averey stepped forward to take one of the black horses. She nodded to the girl, not daring to speak in case her voice gave away the city she came from.

Walking to the side of the horse, she lifted a leg and drew herself over the back, sitting tall atop the saddle.

"Let's go," she whispered to the once King. The horse's strong and powerful muscles beneath her.

 

[Alre Castielle]

"No, that will be all." Alre said to the girl, glancing at the horses that she had brought out.

Each of them were fine beasts, creatures who had clearly been well trained and fed all of their lives. His small 'bribe' had paid off apparently. Satisfied, he walked over to one of the other stallions and slipped his pack onto it's back.

"Thank you." He pulled another silver from his pocket, slipping it directly into the girls palm."Two Cortosians bought theses horses from you. Dark skinned, red robes, heading south."

The girl nodded slowly, clearly half enraptured by the coin.

A second later Alre grabbed the reins of the pack-horse and pulled himself up into the saddle of the other Stallion. He tugged it along, and then rode out with a motion to Averey.

 

[Mariana]

She barely breathed. Didn't dare to speak until they were alone on a dark road. A thick tree-line coming into sight. The flickering lights and bustling of the city behind them.

She loosened the scarf around her head and leaned forward, giving her horse a loving pat on its sleek, dark neck.

A look next to her at Alre. "For once. Trouble didn't find us. I'm surprised you still had that much gold squirreled away from the night court's coffers." A twist of her lips as she surveyed him beneath the starry and moon-filled sky.

 

[Alre Castielle]

There was more gold, much more, but he wasn't quite ready to tell Averey that just yet. "Well, I'm a saver."

Alre said with a smirk, though it quickly died as he glanced around themselves.

They were in the middle of nowhere now. A forest surrounded them and the old road was growing thin. Alre glanced around for a few moments, and he let out a more relaxed breath finally. They were still in Anirian Territory, but perhaps they were far enough away.

"Why don't we get some rest?" Alre said calmly.

"You can show me..." The Prince trailed off as he peered around the forest. "The difference between and ass and an arm again..."

 

[Mariana]

Averey could see more in the dark than a human. She saw a small opening in some trees off the road. It looked like it opened up into a small field. Perhaps a stream nearby. They'd spent the night in worse places. She could think of the desert, for one.

She shot the king a look though.

"Well. If I show you I doubt there would be any rest involved. Do you think you're up for it king?"

 

[Alre Castielle]

He was glad that they had bought bedrolls. Their nights out in the desert had not been too bad, but at the very least they would have a modicum of comfort to hang onto. Alre had made sure of that.

When they came to a stop and the once King slid from his saddle a smirk touched his face. A bit of surprise mixed in with his expression, but he was never one to deny a beautiful woman. "Really?"

Alre mused.

"Going to make me do all the work then." His smirk didn't disappear as he took a step towards her.

This was going to be fun.

 

[Mariana]

Dark-blue eyes twinkled in the starlight as she looked down at him. That smirk on his face. A subtle shake of her head. Reaching up, she let the scarf drop from her head. The she swung one leg over the saddle and dismounted, laced-up sandaled feet hitting the earth.

"Would you rather I slap you again? Yell at you?" She took a stalking step toward him. Then paused, the twist in her lips widening. "You do remember I am a priestess of the night court, right? We always have the most energy at night." Gaze flickered to the bright moon above them before falling back to his face. To his mouth.

 

[Alre Castielle]

Alre had never lacked for confidence in his life, and he certainly wouldn't stop now.

The smirk on his face never disappeared as he closed the distance between the two of them. There was a cockiness to the way he walked, never wavering, never slipping. "I can make you do both."

His voice was low as he reached her, hand snaking over her hip and across her waist. Before she had time to object Alre grabbed her pert rear once again, dragging her against himself and pressing his lips against Averey's.

Tongue slipped passed her guard, and by the time he drew away her lungs would be burning.

"Good." He told her. "Means you can be on top."

 

[Mariana]

His touch felt like fire along her skin. She breathed in deeply as he released her lips. Surprise mixed with a little of ire flared across her gaze. She made no move to step away. Or push him away. Soft curves pressed against his hardened muscles.

"Make. Me?" Hand snapped up, clutching his jaw as she pulled him closer, her tongue darting, playing along his lips. "What makes you think you can make me do anything?" Her free hand dipped down between them, down, down until she found what she was looking for.

 

[Alre Castielle]

He smirked against her lips, his hand slowly digging into her rear as he held her against himself.

There was never a second of self doubt in his eye. Whether she kissed him or slapped him, the expression didn't change. He breathed slowly. "What makes me think?"

Alre mused, and then suddenly she would feel a second hand join the first. Without a moment of hesitation he pulled her up and off her feet, dragging her into the air and taking three quick steps. She would find herself pressed up against a tree, his lips dragging down her jaw and onto her neck.

"I know." He breathed, teeth sinking into her flesh as he pinned her in place.

 

[Mariana]

Fingers stroked the length of him until her hands shifted, coming to dig into his shoulders as his teeth sunk into her neck. Her legs shifted and opened to wrap around his torso.

"Ouch," she hissed at the nip of his teeth even as heat rushed along her body, the knobs and bark of the tree he pressed her against digging against her back even as his hands cradled her into him.

"What do you know?" The priestess purred against him, tightening her legs around him. The strap of her dress slid off shoulder as her neck shifted, giving him more access even as a small dribble of blood ran down her skin.

"I was alive before you were born. I'll be the one making you yell."

 

[Alre Castielle]

Alre took in a breath against her neck her legs wrapped around his waist. Lips pressed slowly against her skin, tracing over the mark that his teeth had left within her supple flesh. His body pressed against hers, holding her in place.

"Oh?" He breathed, heat spilling across her skin as he interchanged small tracing kisses with soft nips along her throat.

She would feel one hand slip free from the curve of her rear, draw away and race up her thigh. The warm night air graced her skin as he drew up her dress, pulling it above waist. His fingers grazed over her thighs, drawing a slow circle before they sailed across her skin. "Let's find out."

The Prince said as his drifted even lower.

 

[Mariana]

The night seemed to stretch on for a very long time. Or perhaps it flew by depending on one's point of view. Averey didn't bother to be quiet or hold in the gasps from pleasure rocketing through her body. And she damned made sure that Alre was breathing and panting just as hard.

After brief rests between, she'd repay every favor after favor. Perhaps showing him a few new things as well. There were certainly a few new scratch marks along his skin. All shallow and harmless.

Just as she had a few bite marks. A handprint or two. The meadow that night saw...a lot of activity. Against that tree. The bedrolls. By the stream. Near the blueberry bushes.

All beneath that blanket of stars.

It wasn't until they were both thoroughly worn out until the first rays of the sun began peeking above the horizon that they stopped. That she finally fell asleep, her naked self curled against him, the tattoos and markings on her skin shifting with each quiet breath she took. A blanket pulled up around their waists. And the horses munching happily at the grasses.

It wouldn't be until the sun was a little higher that she'd finally crack her blue eyes open.

 

[Alre Castielle]

As Averey woke she would feel a hand gently squeeze her backside.

The sun was casting warmth over them, the blanket not even necessary as dawn came and shrouded the day in a new sort of heat. It was the sort that Alre had missed in his time away, the sort that made him more relaxed than anything else.

His eyes were still closed, though he had woken up more than a little while ago.

It had been comfortable to lay there, to relax and not to stir. His fingers slowly curled against her skin, an appreciative touch as simply lay there and allowed himself some well earned rest.

Alre did not try to stir against her, did not try to wake her either. Instead he simply relaxed, letting Averey have the first word of their morning.

 

[Mariana]

A raise of auburn brows at the touch. A twist of her lips. A small roll of her eyes.

"Good afternoon, king," a hand would come and prop beneath her chin as she looked at him, lazily lounging against him. Her fingers tracing idle circles across his pectoral muscles, his skin warmed from the sun.

"Are we going to stay here all afternoon or should we get moving?" She leaned into him, letting her lips trace a path on his mouth.

 

[Alre Castielle]

He considered for a moment, glancing up at the sun as he thought about their next move. His lips pressed against hers gently, almost musing on his answer. "We should go."

Not that it wasn't tempting just to lay here.

They were still in Anirian Territory, and it would be a days ride or more before they crossed the border into unclaimed lands. Beyond that they would have to ride another day or two before finally reaching his Kingdom.

What was rightfully, his kingdom.

"Unless." His fingers squeezed. "You're feeling particularly inclined not to."