Black Raspberry 25 + Butterscotch, Gummy Bunnies: The Marriage Dilemma
Author: lady_leia_solo
Story: The Mondian Chronicles (Archive/ Index/ Timelines)
Title: The Marriage Dilemma
Challenge: Black Raspberry 25: the best things in life are free
Topping(s) and Extra(s): Butterscotch (600 years before current action), Gummy Bunnies (The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret-Henry Youngman)
Word Count: 513
Summary: I feel as though there's more I should say.
Rating and Warning(s): PG; Briefly speaks of child marriage in the past tense
Note(s): This takes place in 531 AW. Horacia and Stefan have been married since 528 AW. She was thirteen, he was eighteen. They have not consummated their marriage at this point. Stefan's campaign is uniting the surrounding Mench kingdoms with Monde (As this time much smaller than in the 1100s).
“Your wife Your Majesty.”
Stefan took a deep breath and looked up. Horacia stepped into the throne room. He didn’t know what he was expecting. She still looked the same. She still had the fiery red hair, warm hazel eyes, sandy skin, and she was still devastatingly young.
“Hello Horacia.”
She came to him slowly. He took in her appearance. She wore dark green and had a bejeweled circlet in her hair.
“How cold a greeting to one’s wife,” she said.
Stefan chuckled. “How should one greet their wife?”
Horacia stood in front of him now. Though she only reached the middle of his chest, she cut an impressive figure.
“You’re supposed to put your arms around her,” Horacia said miming her words. “And leave her breathless with your kiss.”
She kissed him then. Stefan went stone still. She pulled back and looked into his blue eyes.
“Stefan,” she started.
“You are aware of our decision, Horacia,” Stefan said stepping back.
“Your decision,” Horacia said crossing her arms against her chest.
“You are too young.”
“Stefan, your mother was only slightly older than me when she gave birth to you,” Horacia said reaching for his hand.
“And where is she now, Horacia?”
Horacia opened her mouth to speak, but she knew he was right. So she tried another tactic.
“How is the campaign going?”
Stefan sighed. “As well as it can, I suppose. I have captured another kingdom.”
Horacia smiled. “You are so brave, Stefan.”
“Some do not think so.”
Horacia leaned against his chest. “It doesn’t matter what they think. Your people are proud of you.”
Stefan looked down at her. “Are you proud of me, Horacia?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t I?”
Stefan bent down to kiss her forehead, but he stopped himself. Affection was against his rules.
“I haven’t been a good husband to you.”
“No, you haven’t.”
Stefan looked at her surprised. She stuck out her tongue and started to laugh.
“Oh Stefan, we were children when we married. We obviously aren’t going to be the greatest of spouses.”
“I made a vow to protect you,” Stefan said turning away.
“And you are. Even though you are miles away from the city, I know that your men will protect me. You want to protect all of your people and we are eternally grateful.”
A small smile played across his face, but he hid it quickly.
“I want to take you riding tomorrow.”
“You know how much I love riding,” Horacia said, a happy smile on her face.
“Indeed I remember.”
They watched each other for a moment.
“I feel as though there’s more I should say,” Stefan admitted.
“Then you should say it,” Horacia suggested.
“I do not know what it is.”
Horacia grinned. “Then I shall I leave you to think on it over the night. I need my women’s rest.”
Stefan genuinely laughed. “You could stay awake for a month and you wouldn’t lose an ounce of your beauty.”
“So say you,” Horacia said skipping out of the room. “Sweet dreams, dear husband.”
Stefan smiled. “Sweet dreams, Horacia.”
Story: The Mondian Chronicles (Archive/ Index/ Timelines)
Title: The Marriage Dilemma
Challenge: Black Raspberry 25: the best things in life are free
Topping(s) and Extra(s): Butterscotch (600 years before current action), Gummy Bunnies (The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret-Henry Youngman)
Word Count: 513
Summary: I feel as though there's more I should say.
Rating and Warning(s): PG; Briefly speaks of child marriage in the past tense
Note(s): This takes place in 531 AW. Horacia and Stefan have been married since 528 AW. She was thirteen, he was eighteen. They have not consummated their marriage at this point. Stefan's campaign is uniting the surrounding Mench kingdoms with Monde (As this time much smaller than in the 1100s).
“Your wife Your Majesty.”
Stefan took a deep breath and looked up. Horacia stepped into the throne room. He didn’t know what he was expecting. She still looked the same. She still had the fiery red hair, warm hazel eyes, sandy skin, and she was still devastatingly young.
“Hello Horacia.”
She came to him slowly. He took in her appearance. She wore dark green and had a bejeweled circlet in her hair.
“How cold a greeting to one’s wife,” she said.
Stefan chuckled. “How should one greet their wife?”
Horacia stood in front of him now. Though she only reached the middle of his chest, she cut an impressive figure.
“You’re supposed to put your arms around her,” Horacia said miming her words. “And leave her breathless with your kiss.”
She kissed him then. Stefan went stone still. She pulled back and looked into his blue eyes.
“Stefan,” she started.
“You are aware of our decision, Horacia,” Stefan said stepping back.
“Your decision,” Horacia said crossing her arms against her chest.
“You are too young.”
“Stefan, your mother was only slightly older than me when she gave birth to you,” Horacia said reaching for his hand.
“And where is she now, Horacia?”
Horacia opened her mouth to speak, but she knew he was right. So she tried another tactic.
“How is the campaign going?”
Stefan sighed. “As well as it can, I suppose. I have captured another kingdom.”
Horacia smiled. “You are so brave, Stefan.”
“Some do not think so.”
Horacia leaned against his chest. “It doesn’t matter what they think. Your people are proud of you.”
Stefan looked down at her. “Are you proud of me, Horacia?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t I?”
Stefan bent down to kiss her forehead, but he stopped himself. Affection was against his rules.
“I haven’t been a good husband to you.”
“No, you haven’t.”
Stefan looked at her surprised. She stuck out her tongue and started to laugh.
“Oh Stefan, we were children when we married. We obviously aren’t going to be the greatest of spouses.”
“I made a vow to protect you,” Stefan said turning away.
“And you are. Even though you are miles away from the city, I know that your men will protect me. You want to protect all of your people and we are eternally grateful.”
A small smile played across his face, but he hid it quickly.
“I want to take you riding tomorrow.”
“You know how much I love riding,” Horacia said, a happy smile on her face.
“Indeed I remember.”
They watched each other for a moment.
“I feel as though there’s more I should say,” Stefan admitted.
“Then you should say it,” Horacia suggested.
“I do not know what it is.”
Horacia grinned. “Then I shall I leave you to think on it over the night. I need my women’s rest.”
Stefan genuinely laughed. “You could stay awake for a month and you wouldn’t lose an ounce of your beauty.”
“So say you,” Horacia said skipping out of the room. “Sweet dreams, dear husband.”
Stefan smiled. “Sweet dreams, Horacia.”