Through the Eyes of a Fae
Chapter 6

The entire encampment rose at dawn. The wind blew hard, as if the land itself was eager to push the campaign home. Ludis and Stella stood before the king, giving the final report before they moved on.

“So, my king, as yet she seems genuine-with no ill intent to us or ours. She does have power so, when Ben suggested she come to the capitol, I could not think of a reason to refuse. It beats taking her prisoner, after going through such a terrible ordeal already.” Ludis concluded. Malik looked from her to Stella and sighed heavily.

“Leave it to Ben to be so chivalrous. Stella, do you agree?” Malik stroked his chin, feeling the stubble forming.

“I do. While she seems innocent enough, I cannot deny the feeling of power we felt. It makes no sense. Where did it go? It had to have been her. She is also reluctant to spill her secrets. She is not stupid. Kora is vulnerable, though. Better to keep her close, and safe. If the enemy was using her as a conduit we need to know why and how she is capable of such magic. They know Kora is not there anymore, they will be looking for her. Something tells me that they are waiting to search for her already.”

" I would like to meet with her later, on the way home. I do not want to bombard her just yet. I am anxious to form my own opinion.” Malik stood, and began to put parchment into boxes, clearing the table in front of him.

“You may go, Stella. Ludis, would you stay a moment, please?” Ludis looked up, and then sideways, at Stella. She shrugged and turned to leave. Whatever the king wanted to discuss with his head mage was no business of hers. Stella stepped out into the sunlight and went straight for her tent. The pages had already packed, everything had been broken down, but she wanted to check on Atsila and Adanedi. The horses, feeling the energy from the people, were excited to be on the move again. Adanedi was as docile as always, as gentle and calm as his owner. Atsila stomped and pranced in place, as eager as Stella to move on. She had not been home in 4 years; Stella was excited to walk the halls of the castle again. To sleep in her own bed and take a real bath. Eat real food. Daydreaming of the sweets she wanted to get her hands on, she did not hear Royce approaching, but Utana’s loud snort scared her out of her wits. She let out a small shriek and whipped around. Royce was grinning, leaning against his horse’s shoulder.

“How do you DO that? Some tribal magic? No one so big should be so quiet! And you have bewitched Utana the same!” Stella was very irritated, her blush evident.

“Are you ready to ride Stells? You seem to be slacking as usual.” Royce was teasing her again, and she stomped into the makeshift pen to saddle the horses.

“I will leave when I’m good and ready, Royce Griffin, and not a moment sooner, thank you very much.” Royce continued to grin.

“Ya know, I meant what I said last night, Stells. I am thinking of settling down. I can see you are not ready, but that is ok. I have all the time in the world now. I can wait.” Stella was so shocked by his blunt confession that she dropped her saddle in the mud. Sputtering and unable to form a sentence for a whole five minutes, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water, Royce’s grin getting bigger and bigger as he waited.

“What makes you think I would ever marry you? Or anyone for that matter! I am a mage, I answer no one!” she managed to finally spit out, her face burning crimson.

“Mages marry sweetheart, happens every day. Like I said, I know you are not ready. But I wanted to be honest from the get-go.” Royce’s face fell for a moment, and then a weak smile replaced it.

“I wanted to wait until now because we never knew whether we would live to see another day or not. I did not want to leave a family behind to be cared for by another. But since we now have our whole lives ahead of us, I cannot imagine torturing anyone but you every day. I mean it. It’s been you since you fell off that bony horse 6 years ago in the courtyard of Cade’s castle courtyard.” Royce then turned with his horse and walked away, leaving Stella red-faced and speechless.

Ludis stood before her king, waiting to see what he would say. He seemed lost in thought for a while, and Ludis shifted her weight.

“For the gods’ sake, Ludis, please sit. You know I hate formality between us.” Malik rubbed his face, at the end of his patience with this woman. He cared for her, first as a friend and now as a lover, being at odds with her was killing him. Ludis, being uncharacteristically stubborn, remained standing. When the war ended a few months ago, the congratulations letters from the nobility, along with offers of their daughters’ hands in marriage, began to pour into the camp. While on campaign Ludis and Malik had grown close, and last spring they began a relationship in secret. Upon the letter’s arrival, Ludis seemed to have received what she called a reality check. No king could marry a southern tribe commoner, no matter how talented or pale skinned she was. With that, she had demanded separation from him. Claiming to want to protect his image, and her heart, from damage.

She still would not speak. He moved around the table, coming to stand before her. He ran his hand up her arm to cup her face, and she turned her gaze away, refusing to look at him. He kissed her collar bone, his hands now moving around her waist. Sliding under her shirt, she remained motionless. Kissing up from her collar bone to her neck, he felt her shiver and smiled against her skin. Moving to lick the hollow of her shoulder as he moved her shirt out of the way, he could hear her soft gasp. His other hand was caressing her bottom. He moved his hand around to the front of her body as his mouth came to kiss her ear, suckling her lobe. She began to breathe harder but refused to respond. He felt her fighting. His hand moved lower to her most sensitive area. He began to caress her through her breeches, and he moaned into her shoulder, kissing along her jaw, capturing her mouth as she panted. He wanted her. Pulling her breeches down, he freed himself; Lifting her up, he sat her gently on the desk and slid into her slowly, kissing her deep. They could not resist each other. He began to move faster, pounding into her, desperate to reach her center and never leave. She clung to him, kissing his neck. the feeling of her mouth on him was driving him crazy, and he thrust harder. She leaned back on the desk, giving him a full view of her body. Her breasts bounced, and he captured one hard nipple in his mouth. He drove into her, desperate for release. He could feel her tightening around him, her soft cries growing louder. He captured her mouth and grabbed her hips, holding her still for his onslaught. The table rocked, and they reached their climax together, Ludis crying out his name. He groaned and emptied himself into her. Slowly, he reluctantly pulled out of her, reaching for a drying cloth to wipe them clean. He looked at her, and she had her eyes closed, her breathing still ragged. It was a miracle no one heard them, or if someone had they where really good at ignoring them.

“Ludis, please don’t do this anymore. You know what I want. I do not care if you are common born, or of the Tribe. The nobles’ opinion doesn’t matter to me. They would be lucky to have you as a queen.” Ludis blanched and Malik winced. He had not mentioned marriage to her before, and that was obviously not the way to start the conversation. Her violet eyes snapped open, and she froze. She stood up and grabbed her clothes, dressing quickly.

“So, you want to marry me despite my common blood. What a wonderful way to propose your Grace. I would practice before you propose to a noble woman. I do not believe such a brass announcement would be received so well. If I may have my leave, your Majesty, I have things to attend to before we depart.” Malik strode around the table to stand over Ludis. She did not flinch, looking up into his steel eyes with her cold lavender ones.

“You know that is not what I meant, Ludis. What do I have to do? What law do I need to change, what rule are you trying to follow? What do you want, Ludis?” He had hurt her somehow, and he did not understand. She stepped back from him and looked down, her lashes shielding her eyes, her expression unreadable.

“I want to be loved, just for who I am.” With that, she left, and Malik stood there, frozen. How could he be so stupid? Had he ever told her what he felt? No. Just what he wanted. When he wanted it. Had he ever asked her what she wanted before today? No. He saw it. The woman he felt closest to in the entire world suddenly became a stranger to him. He had buried himself in her, trying to escape his own reality and responsibilities. She had opened her arms to him, cradled him like a lost soul. But what had he done for her? Who was she? Ludis the woman, not his lover, and not the Head Mage of Deidre.