Ever After, Final Chapter (8)
Title: Ever After
Rating: NC-17 (it became sort of smutty... >_>)
Pairing: Andy/Miranda
Length: 9000 (this chapter)
Summary: AU, sort of a crossover with “ Three wishes/hazelnuts for Cinderella”.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Cinderella or the Devil Wears Prada, I only (ab)use them for fangirl moments!
A/N: Sorry it took so long, I was so stressed out by my exam that I could not really write that much... BUT I passed!!! And now I used my euphoria to finish the story!! ^_^
So, this is the last chapter... it’s a bit long, but that’s because I wanted to tie everything up properly and still fit in some smut and some final fluff.
A/N 2: Oh, btw, when I wrote this chapter I totally pictured Patrick Stewart as the king. ^_^
A/N 3: I hope the scene with the trial isn't too long or too confusing. I don't know how to properly write the "big revealing scene"... fitting in all the info I have in my head, which mostly consists of dialogue, and then still make it sort of flow. :/ I hope it works.
A/N 4: As usual, not beta-read, my mistakes are my own, hope they don't distract too much!
A/N 5: Oh and I really want to thank everyone who’s been reading this story from the beginning! THANK YOU!!! ^_^ I hope you enjoy reading this last chapter! <3
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7
Final Chapter
Andy woke up to delicious warmth buzzing in every corner of her body. Her limbs felt a little stiff, so she slowly wriggled her shoulders and attempted to stretch out her spine like a cat when she suddenly realized that her backside was pressing into soft heat. Her eyes fluttered open and she peered into the darkness. For a moment she was unsure where exactly she was, but a soft hoot and flutter from across the room helped her memories catch up and a tingle sparked in her chest and travelled down her back, along each vertebrae, right into her abdomen. Miranda. Andy heard a very soft snore, almost too light to hear, and she felt a warm breath tickle the hairs on the back of her neck.
She was in Princess Miranda's bed, after a night of... wonderfully delightful pleasure... and love. Feeling her cheeks flush from the intensity of the their lovemaking Andy buried her violently grinning face into her hands. A luscious feeling radiated from inside of her and she felt exquisitely sweet and sticky, a little bit sore, and a little bit naughty, however all of it in a good way. The area between her thighs throbbed at the memory of Miranda's loving ministrations and Andy instinctively pushed back into the soft body spooning her.
She heard soft mumbling in her hair and a long arm was languidly slung around her waist, pulling her closer. "Good morning, my sweet Andréa." Her chest was humming heavily with love and Andy slipped her hand across the warm appendage on her middle to tightly grasp Miranda's hand and tenderly trace the older woman’s knuckles with her index finger. "Good morning, Miranda." She felt herself press back with a roll of her hips and felt the princess smile into her neck. "Hmmm..."
A second arm snaked its way under her head and bent back at the elbow to tenderly caress her hair, while the hand on her waist began to rub slow circles across her naked belly. Miranda pressed her entire body against Andy in a single slow wave and the girl had to gasp at the gentle pressure of the princess' breasts against her back. A warm knee nudged her legs forward and the hand on her stomach moved back over her hip to sensually stroke her behind and down the back of her thighs.
The pool of molten heat below her navel was already flooding toward the junction of her legs, and now that she recognized the sensation and knew it for what it was, she revelled in it and readily opened her thighs to welcome Miranda's seeking hand to slip in between from behind. A gentle finger slid up through her moist heat and began to rub rhythmic circles across the sensitive little bundle, while the warm groin behind her pressed into her. It made her shudder with pleasure and memories of the previous night flashed before her eyes, driving up her heart rate.
Andy reached back with her right arm to pull at Miranda's soft backside in rhythm with the hand stroking between her legs, and they rolled their hips in unison, gentle yet firm. The older woman's hot mouth locked onto Andy's skin and a strong tongue began massaging the muscle between her neck and shoulder. Wishing to face her lover but unwilling to lose the current sensations, Andy reached up and grabbed the left hand caressing her hair with her own and tenderly entwined their fingers, bringing the older woman's fingers to her lips for soft kisses.
Growing more demanding, the fingers pressed between her legs more firmly and Andy rolled into them, urging them to go lower and to where she knew she needed them the most. "Hmmm, darling, you're not too sore?" The older woman whispered sweetly against her cheek as her fingers hesitantly circled Andy's opening. "Yes... no! Miranda..." She wasn't sure she could form a coherent answer. All she was certain of was that she needed the princess to touch her, deep inside. So she rolled her hips one more time, causing the tips of Miranda's fingers to slip lower.
Miranda's knee pressed to part her legs even wider and also served to push the hand more firmly against Andy's core. "Hmmm, Miranda... please..." The wild animal in her threatened to leap out and forcefully grab at that teasing hand. She kissed the older woman's left fingers vigorously, licking and sucking them into her mouth in an attempt to pull her closer. Miranda gasped against her neck and with a firm push of her hips and knee she slipped two fingers into the welcoming heat, eliciting a guttural groan from the girl.
The sensation was even more filling than the night before. From this angle the penetration reached deeper and stretched her more firmly. Knowing that she was Miranda's and that the princess loved her, filled Andy with such complete and utter trust that she raised her legs and opened herself even wider to the older woman's touch. All shyness had disappeared and the only thing that mattered now was their physical and spiritual connection. She let go of Miranda's backside and moved her hand to the front, sneaking between her own legs and over the warm, slippery fingers, which so deviously disappeared inside her body.
She covered the older woman's hand with her own as the sensation of their united movements, not unlike a sensual dance, fed the raging fire inside of her. Their bodies, rubbing together, had created so much heat that Miranda was sliding easily against her back on a thin layer of sweat, allowing their motions to become more frantic. Hearing the princess exhale muffled moans against the side of her throat pulled Andy even closer to the edge and out of reflex she pushed the heel of her right palm against the throbbing bundle of nerves above her entrance, while still keeping the tips of her fingers rhythmically pressed against the hand plunging inside her core. Being enveloped so fully by Miranda, and actually feeling her strong sculptor fingers driving in and out of her, not only with her clenching center, but also with her own hand, carried Andy faster and faster down the wild river.
The older woman's thrusts became more forceful and Andy realized with a moan that Miranda was pushing herself against her backside, leaving wet trails against Andy's skin. The thought of the princess being just as needing and ready as herself, pushed her quickly toward the thunderous cliff and Andy rolled her hips even faster, her internal muscles clutching onto the deeply stroking fingers. She was so wet and slippery now that she could barely feel the friction anymore. The older woman seemed to not be pleased about that, and without warning she added a third finger, deliciously stretching Andy just that bit more, sending her crashing over the edge, pressing into the tight embrace and thrashing backward against Miranda's wet groin.
The princess ground jerkily against the girl's soft backside and their mutual groans echoed into the darkness as their bodies went rigid, seemingly floating in midair, their ragged breaths halted in their throats, which arched against each other in their need to be even closer. Ever so slowly their muscles relaxed and Miranda sweetly kissed Andy's slick neck while the girl kept resting her head against the older woman's shoulder, inhaling large gulps of air. The princess' chest was rising heavily against her back and Andy reached to fully cover the hand still resting inside of her.
"Hmmm... Miranda," she moaned in what sounded more like a purr. They languidly pushed their hips together again and the princess grinned into the girl's shoulder. "Oh darling, that was so incredibly exquisite." Andy wanted to desperately turn around and kiss the older woman but she did not want to let go of the warm fingers in between her still pulsing inner walls. "Miranda, I want to kiss you..." Soft kisses were trailing up her neck and Miranda mumbled against her skin. "Then turn around..." Andy instinctively pressed more firmly against the hand between her legs and closed her thighs, effectively trapping it. The older woman gave a surprised gasp which turned into a small giggle once she understood.
"Alright darling, lie on your back," she instructed and tenderly slid out her left arm from under the girl's head. Andy slowly turned around, the fingers inside of her twisting and causing a delicious sting against her swollen flesh. The small gasp escaping her lips was quickly muffled as the older woman pressed her mouth to Andy's. "Hello..." the girl sheepishly whispered once they pulled away. Miranda nuzzled her cheek and placed little butterfly kisses along her jaw-line. "Darling, now bend and raise your right leg for me." Andy complied and had to moan as the fingers inside of her turned again and pushed even deeper as the older woman helped push up her knee and crawled to lie in between her legs, slowly rolling her hips against their joined hands.
They both moaned again. Dawn had softly begun to illuminate the room and Andy could make out the princess throwing back her white locks at the contact. She loved Miranda so much. She wanted to stay like this forever, their bodies moving as one, their spirits interlocked in a sweet mixture of tenderness and desire. When the older woman bent down to kiss her deeply, lowering her sticky chest to Andy's and letting her soft, white tresses caress her cheeks, the girl swiftly turned her wrist and pressed her wet palm between Miranda's thighs, eliciting another moan from the older woman. "Hmmm,... oh darling I love you so very much." They kissed again, their tongues sliding together in renewed need, hips rolling in a new dance.
Almost on their own account, two of Andy's fingers slipped into Miranda's messy heat, causing the older woman to buck her hips and welcome them with a deep groan. She spread her knees upward, widening Andy's in the process and their hands moved deeper inside each other. "M... Miranda!" Their free arms wrapped around their shoulders in a tight embrace, pushing them even closer as they lay panting, cheek to cheek. Andy's right arm was burning, next to Miranda's, pressed between their two bodies in an almost painful hold, but they both pushed deeper and began to curl their fingers up in simultaneous thrusts.
Blind need took over as they moved together with forceful movements and heavy panting. Andy was sore and her arm was going numb, but she wanted the princess so much that it nearly tore her soul in half. She could barely concentrate on her fingers inside the older woman as Miranda's own digits firmly stroked that spot deeply inside of her. The first tremors began to shake through her and she threw up her feet and clamped her heels down firmly against Miranda's clenched backside, pulling her impossibly closer. Miranda was loudly groaning into Andy's neck as they crashed together in an explosive release, their walls tightening around their fingers simultaneously.
They clung to each other in desperation as the intensity thrashed their bodies and spirits together in a tempestuous swirl. Andy knew then that no other person could ever exist for her beside Miranda. The princess meant everything to her and she wanted to never live another day without her by her side. As she tumbled through sweet oblivion, holding on to the hot body in her arms and between her legs, she felt such profound happiness, such sweet contentment, that all the horrors of the past ten years seemed to fall away and disappear.
They carefully landed back on earth and Andy felt hot wetness against her neck as she realized that the princess was crying. "Miranda..." She gently lowered her legs back to the mattress and removed both their hands. Tightly embracing the older woman, she rolled them on their sides and tenderly ran her fingers through Miranda's soft hair. "Miranda, my love. Are you alright?" The answer was a tightening of arms around her and a gentle nod against her neck. Andy rubbed soothing circles on her back and then reached for the discarded covers to wrap them back into a cocoon of warmth. “Shh, my love. I’ve got you.” Miranda nuzzled the curve between her neck and shoulder and sighed. “I’m alright, darling. Just a little... overwhelmed.”
It was fully light outside now and the first tendrils of sunlight came flooding through the window. Andy moved her head to sweetly kiss the older woman's forehead and then languidly stroked through the white locks. After a while Miranda pulled away slightly so they could finally look into each other's eyes. They both sighed at the amount of love they found within. Andy remembered the first time their eyes had met in a confusingly intense gaze. She had not understood it then, how two souls could be destined for one another. Now, looking into the clear, blue eyes, shining back at her with utmost affection and devotion, she knew in her heart that Miranda and her were meant to be one. Kindred souls bound together by a the strings of fate.
"I love you, Miranda," she tenderly pressed their noses together and the princess gave her a sweet smile. "And I you, my darling." They held each other close and basked in the afterglow, nuzzling their cheeks and occasionally planting soft kisses and sighing in contentment. "Hmmm, I think we need a bath," Miranda said after a while, crinkling her nose. Andy lowered her eyelashes and whispered, "But I like the way you smell." To demonstrate she buried her face in the crook of the older woman's neck and inhaled deeply. "Hmmm, so nice..." It caused the princess to chuckle and she squeezed the girl in her arms. "Yes, you may enjoy it, however the rest of the castle..." A finger poked into Andy’s side and they broke out in giggles.
***
A few hours later Andy found herself walking through the many hallways once again. They had bathed together, had shared a delicious breakfast and the princess had offered Andy a sip of her coffee. The strange brown brew had intrigued the girl, however once her tongue had tasted the scalding liquid she had gagged violently at the bitter flavour, much to the older woman's amusement. It was hard to imagine that anyone could experience pleasure from drinking it, however Andy did rather enjoy tasting it later, on Miranda’s lips. It added to the sweet and spicy flavour of the older woman’s mouth and Andy knew that coffee would forever be tied to the feeling of Miranda’s tongue sensually caressing her own.
Andy looked at the princess walking beside her. From the very moment they had met, she had been drawn to Miranda's beauty, the fire in her icy gaze and the passion she had subconsciously known to lie deep within. As they walked quietly toward the great hall, holding hands and sheepishly smiling at one another, she felt as if that beauty and passion had somehow extended to herself. She was a different person now. Or maybe she wasn't really different; it felt more like their night and morning together had awoken a part of Andy that had been present all of her life, but had remained in deep slumber in the shadows of her soul. That part of her had now stepped out and merged with who Andy had been for the past twenty years. She loved the new, yet familiar person she had found staring back at her from the mirror this morning.
"Nervous?" The older woman interrupted her thoughts, looking at her quizzically and squeezing Andy's hand. "Hmmm? Oh... that. Yes, a little. I mostly just wish to know what is going on." They turned into another hallway, their steps echoing across the smooth stone floors. "Andréa, I will try my best to assure that your father won't be harmed. However if he is guilty, he still needs to face punishment." Andy nodded and looked down at their joined hands. "Yes, I understand, and I would not expect any less." Miranda came to a stop and gently lifted the girl's chin with her free hand. "I love you." Tender fingers moved a few unruly strands from Andy's face and soft lips were pressed to the girl's cheek.
"Good morning, you two lovebirds," a soft voice called from behind them. Andy pulled her head away but firmly held on to the older woman's hand, as they turned to see Serena and Emily walk up. The younger princess searched Andy's face and found something that made her break out in a wide smile. She leaned forward to hug Miranda. "I'm so happy for you, auntie." The older woman's cheeks flushed but her lips could not hide their slight curl. Andy was confused and looked between the two princesses. "How... how can you know...?" Emily stepped closer and wrinkled her nose. "It's just dripping off of you two."
Andy's eyes went big, as embarrassment forced up her hand to cover the reddened cheeks. Miranda elegantly raised an eyebrow. "Ashamed?" The older woman's gaze was narrowed but Andy recognized the warmth shining through the cool blue and it engulfed her with affection and lured her out. She boldly bridged the distance between their faces and pressed her lips sweetly to Miranda's. Surprised but pleased eyes twinkled at her when she pulled back. "Never."
Emily had turned her head away, the blush on her cheeks and neck accentuated by her red tresses. Serena, however, just beamed at her aunt and then at Andy. "Now. I think we should go. Father will be waiting." The older woman nodded and pulled Andy along as the four of them continued into the great hall. Andy felt uneasy about seeing the king again after her loss of control the previous day, and she wasn’t sure how she should behave or where she was expected to be, during the hearing.
To her surprise Miranda led her down the large staircase and onto the carpeted platform next to the empty throne where a second chair stood, only slightly less intricate than the king’s. The older woman sat down elegantly and pulled Andy closer to her face. “Please remain by my side. And do not speak unless spoken to. Understood?” Andy nodded gingerly as she watched the king regally descend the stairs and stride up toward the throne. Miranda squeezed the girl’s hand and then let go. “It will be alright. Trust me, darling.” With that she turned to her brother and briefly dipped her chin. The king sat and raised his hand in a small wave to signal the guards to begin.
Andy straightened her shoulders and glanced at Serena, who stood by the king’s side and gave an encouraging smile. The great hall filled with more people and Andy recognized Douglas and Nigel leaning on the balustrade of the second level and her friend wriggled his fingers in a slight wave. Emily had taken up a spot in the back, leaning lazily against one of the Corinthian columns, her arms crossed and her face a picture of indifference. Numerous servants and official looking folk lined the sides of the lower level and Andy felt her heart sink as she looked in their faces. The excited but hushed whispers and expectant faces told her that people would not be subjective. Then again, how subjective would she, herself, be if her father hadn’t been one of the suspects?
The large doors on the far wall swung open and the captain of the royal guard marched in, followed by his men leading the group of bandits and making them stand before the king. The suspects were all chained together at the hands behind their backs, but their wounds had been addressed and their appearance seemed less rugged. Andy searched for Richard, however to her surprise she realized that he was not amongst them. She began to lean down to Miranda to question the absence of her father, but the princess quietly held up a finger to stop her before she could open her mouth. Andy straightened her shoulders again and glanced back down at the men, when the king rose from his throne.
“Which one of you is the leader?” he asked evenly. The bandits all looked to the floor, neither of them willing to speak up. The king clasped his hands behind his back and began to slowly pace back and forth. “Clearly a lot of thought and planning has gone into the way your attacks have been carried out. Despite the constantly changing routes of the caravans you have always found ways to intercept at the weakest point.” The king stopped pacing and looked down to the men. “I have trouble believing that this has simply been the result of lucky guesses by a group of brutes.”
One of the men, he seemed only a boy to Andy, began to tremble but kept his head low as the king stepped down before the bandits and began to stroke his beard. “I am not so much annoyed at the loss of a few goods, however I have lost two of my best men, thanks to you.” At this the young bandit raised his face and looked at the king with shock widening his eyes. “Yes, two of my men died as a result of injuries inflicted by the robbers.” He stopped in front of the boy, pinning him down with a calm stare. “Both left behind wives and children.” Tears sprang into the young bandits eyes and his lips were shaking.
Something inside of Andy cried out for the boy, although she realized he was a suspect of a double murder now. She watched as the king commenced his walk in front of the bandits. “Now. I have the suspicion that there is more involved than you lot hiding in the thicket, waiting for royal shipments to coincidentally pass by.” His voice remained low and even and Andy recognized a similarity to the way Miranda had spoken when she had confronted Clarissa. ”Unless every single one of you wishes to receive punishment for taking the lives of my two men, I want to know who your leader is.” A majority of the bandits raised their heads and Andy saw fear in their faces. She wasn’t quite sure whether they were scared of the king and the threat of punishment or whether they were actually fearful of whoever their leader was.
The boy, tears now freely running down his cheeks, began to mumble and the king stopped in his tracks, turning back toward him. “You need to speak up, son.” The other men jerked their heads toward their young group member with terror written on their features. “We... we just do as we’re told! But... but we never... ever meant to hurt anyone... let alone... ki... kill...” Stepping closer the king nodded. “Your leader, is he among you now?” The boy shook his head and hiccupped loudly, sobs violently shaking his thin body. Signalling to the guard captain, the king instructed for the other prisoner to be brought in. Andy held her breath. No, surely her father wasn’t a bandit leader, responsible for the deaths of two of the king’s men. She simply could not believe it.
The doors opened again and two guards led in Richard. His hands were bound on his back and he looked defeated and tired. Andy’s heart ached at the image and she had to fight tears when her father was brought before the king who gazed at him long and hard. Andy had trouble breathing, her chest heavy with anxiety, and she pressed a hand against her heart, willing it to calm down. Gentle fingers touched her arm and stroked down to her wrist. Miranda wasn’t looking at her, eyes focused on King Maximillian, but her fingers sought out Andy’s and softly caressed the girl’s palm.
The king looked back at the young bandit and raised his finger toward Richard. “Is this man the leader?” The kid looked at Andy’s father who looked back with his brows drawn together in a pleading gaze. Shaking his head slowly the boy turned back to the king. “No, your Majesty.” Richard’s shoulders slumped at this, which confused Andy. It was obvious that her father had wished for a different answer and Andy couldn’t figure out why, if he indeed was the bandit leader and the brain behind the robberies, why would he not appreciate the kid lying for him?
“What is his role then, son?” The king put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “He... he takes the goods off our hands and then resells them in different towns.” At this King Maximillian turned around to look at Miranda and at the girl behind her, as if making sure that both had heard what the boy had said. Richard followed the king’s gaze and finally noticed Andy, hovering behind the king’s sister and holding her hand. Confusion clear on his features he was about to speak when the king stepped in front of him. “Tell me the truth now.” The king’s clear blue eyes bore into Richard. “Who is the brain behind all this? Who orchestrated the robberies and has set up quite the impressive black market trading emporium in my kingdom?”
Richard shook his head. “I cannot tell you, your Majesty. I must protect my family.” The king thoughtfully stroked his beard and then asked softly. “Are you?” The man before him furrowed his brows in question so the king briefly nodded his head behind him, indicating the girl at Princess Miranda's side. “Protecting them?” Richard glanced at his daughter and his eyes went wide. Andy was on the verge of crying. She didn’t understand what was happening and she felt torn between fear, anger and total confusion. The older woman’s finger’s firmly held on to her hand when Richard struggled forward, the guards holding him back by his bound hands. “Why is my daughter here? Is she also a prisoner? She has done nothing wrong!” His voice was suddenly full of emotion. “You can’t use her like that. I won’t have her be treated that way!”
At this Miranda abruptly let go of Andy’s hand and stood at the edge of the small platform. “But you would have her be tied up and beaten by your wife?!” It was still Miranda’s typical low and icy tone but there was a very unsteady edge to it. The entire hall had suddenly gone quiet and all eyes were directed at the princess who stood on the red carpet, one hand on her hip, the other in mid-air, pointing at Richard who had paled considerably. “Wh-what?” he stuttered. Slowly walking down the steps, white lock softly bobbing off her forehead, Miranda crossed her arms. “Yes.” She stood beside the king and drilled icy daggers into Richard with her gaze. “Two days ago I arrived at your estate in search of my Andréa and I found her... locked up in the attic...” Ice cold fire seemed to lunge from the princess and onto the chalk-white man. “...tied to a chair, nearly frozen to death and... beaten.” The last word was spat at Richard whose eyes were shiny and large with shock.
Andy could no longer watch and quickly descended the steps to reach for Miranda. The older woman turned at the touch, her eyes livid and full of hurt. Andy silently pleaded for Miranda to stop, thick tears freely streaming down her cheeks, and as soon as their gazes locked the older woman’s face softened. “Oh darling, I’m sorry.” She immediately wrapped Andy in a warm embrace.
“Is... is this true?” Richard’s shaky voice made the two pull apart and Andy slowly nodded. “It’s alright now, father. I’m alright... I’m safe.” Miranda grabbed her hand at that, for emphasis. Richard looked from his daughter to the princess, confusion shining in his eyes.
“While we’re having this family reunion...” the king said as he motioned to the guard captain again, “... I think it’s time to hear from the other party.” He turned to look at his sister. “Mira?” The older woman nodded and pulled Andy back up toward the chair, keeping their fingers locked. The large doors at the end of the hall opened again and a high-pitched voice was heard, yelling obscenities. “Would you get your filthy hands off me! I am a countess, I will not be handled this way!” Andy flinched and Miranda soothingly rubbed the back of her hand.
Trying to shake off the three guards pulling at her, was the large figure of Clarissa. Behind her, head bowed low and taking slow, solemn steps, was Danielle. Both were led before the king and the countess looked to her right to find her husband staring at her, anger shining from his eyes. “Richard! Don’t let them treat me like this! Do something!” He continued to look at her with contempt and Clarissa struggled against the three guards to step closer to him. “What is going on here?!” She demanded.
“You tell me, Clarissa,” her husband replied through clenched teeth. “I just found out that the goods you had me sell were actually stolen... from the king of all people!” The countess stepped back, her eyes big and her mouth hanging open crookedly. “And then I hear that you beat... my daughter!?” The last was practically yelled out and the king cleared his throat and motioned for the guards to pull Clarissa and Richard further apart. “If you two could be quiet, please.” He briefly turned around to nod at Serena, who quietly moved up to the second level and disappeared through the upper door.
Andy felt as if she had somehow landed in a surreal dream. Seeing her father and stepmother being sternly addressed by King Maximillian while Miranda was gently stroking her hand was absurd. She had no idea whether she should laugh or cry, be unsettled or calm. Her eyes moved up to Douglas who just looked down at the scene with wide eyes, a hand held over his mouth and Nigel’s arm slung over left shoulder for comfort. Andy took a deep breath and then looked at Miranda. The older woman was looking at her lovingly and with concern, her eyes communicating that Andy should trust her. Squeezing their joint hands, Andy nodded and then looked back down at the king who was now addressing Clarissa.
“Countess, would you care to explain to me why you have hired a group of men to intercept shipments of goods, destined for the castle?” Clarissa narrowed her small eyes at the king but said nothing. “It must have been rather lucrative to have your unsuspecting husband resell our valuable eastern fabrics and spices. Our coffee...” At this Miranda tensed and Andy began to feel even more hatred toward her stepmother. So it had been her who had stolen Miranda’s coffee. Reminded of how the brew tasted on the princess’ lips, Andy thought that even after everything Clarissa had done to her, this was by far the worst offense. How dare she touch something that belonged to Miranda!
The king paced in front of Clarissa, Danielle and Richard. “I wonder, though, how you managed to know, each and every time we altered the routes, exactly where and when to strike.” He stopped in front of Danielle and regarded her evenly. “It almost seems as if you’ve had help from inside the castle...” Andy watched her stepsister’s eyes widen. What was going on?
“Father? You wanted to see me?” Prince Christian called from the upper level before taking in the scene below. The king motioned for him to come down. “Yes, son. Come here.” Clarissa’s eyes hardened and Danielle began to sport a furious blush. The Prince was hesitant as he drew closer, his eyes locked on Danielle. He came to stand beside his father who put a calming hand on his shoulder. “Son, I assume you know the countess and her daughter?” Andy watched with a hint of disgusted pleasure as both the prince and her stepsister blushed a deep crimson. She really did not want to know this, but in a way, these two truly and utterly deserved each other.
“Er... yes, father. I mean... I know Danielle,” the prince answered, now calm enough to wink at the blond girl in front of him. The king leaned closer to his son. “And, did you happen to talk to this girl... about recent shipments? You know, shipments of goods of which I have given you full responsibility of, to see whether you could handle running a country in the future...” It was uttered calmly, but Andy recognized the venomous edge to it. The prince immediately straightened his shoulders and then looked from Danielle to her mother, to Richard and the bandits, who were all surrounded by guards. Andy could literally see the cogs turning in his head.
“Oh... OH!!!” His eyes went wide and he looked at his father. “I... I had no idea!” The king shook his head slowly. “No... of course not, son.” He sounded sad as he patted Prince Christian’s shoulder. “But you did it nonetheless. Endangering the kingdom... costing two of my men’s lives...” The prince’s face went white and he glanced back at Danielle who gave him a sorrowful and apologetic look.
“Now.” King Maximillian straightened and climbed back up the few steps. “Of course I have not figured this out just now. My sister and I have been tracking these robberies for a while.” He sat back down in his throne with a long sigh. “We just did not know exactly who was involved... or why.” The king glanced over at Miranda and continued, “However after Princess Miranda had found my son’s... not-so-secret lover at the same estate that we had been tracking some of the stolen goods to, a lot of things finally clicked into place.”
Andy looked at Miranda in shock but a gentle squeeze silently told her that all would be explained soon. King Maximillian let his gaze wander over the many people standing before him. “Countess, I hold you fully responsible for all the robberies. You will receive punishment for thievery and manslaughter.” He looked at Miranda and then at his son before returning his gaze back to Clarissa. “However, since you are... somewhat tied to the royal family... I will not sentence you to death.” Andy forcibly exhaled a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. She truly hated her stepmother, but she was still relieved that Clarissa would not be hanged.
“So,” the king motioned to the guards. “You will spend the unforeseeable future in the castle dungeon.” Clarissa went pale and as soon as the guards began to pull her away she hurled out a blood-curdling scream. “No! You can’t do this! I’m a countess!” The king stood up and raised his voice a little, so it would carry above her screams. “Oh and your title is hereby revoked.” The no-longer-countess fought against the men and two more guards had to lend a hand in pulling the hysteric woman from the great hall. Once she was gone, an eerie silence fell over everyone, and Andy looked at her father, who was completely in shock, and then at her stepsister who was crying silently, still looking at the prince.
The king took a deep breath and then turned his attention to the lined-up bandits. "You are hereby sentenced to thirty days in confinement. You will do chores on the castle grounds as I see fit and by the time of your release I will make sure your work will be rewarded." He let his gaze linger on the boy. "I hope that in the future, you will refrain from thievery and harming others, and find an honest profession instead." The youngest bandit nodded eagerly and the king acknowledged it with a nod of his own and then signalled the guards to take the group away.
Then he turned to Danielle and Christian. "So. Danielle, was it?" The blonde nodded, apprehensively glancing at the prince. "I was going to throw you into a cell with your mother, if only for a night." At this the girl broke out into sobs and prince Christian instinctively raised a hand to her shoulder for comfort, before he realized what he was doing, and quickly pulled away again. The king continued to speak. "However, my daughter has brought my attention to the fact that you... seem to be carrying an innocent life with you." Danielle's face turned a dark crimson and Prince Christian regarded his father with a blank expression.
Andy studied her stepsister. Were the king and Princess Serena correct? Was Danielle with child? She had always been rather large, Clarissa's eating habits had made sure of that, but now that Andy looked at her stepsister, she realized that there was indeed a small bump pushing through her dress. Glancing up at Douglas, Andy saw that her friend was just as shocked by that revelation. He had measured Danielle and had tailored and fitted clothes for her, but even he had been clueless.
The king cleared his throat to silence the hum of excited whispers that had rushed over the crowd, and then faced the stunned blond girl again. "I will not risk harming what could very well be my first grandchild." A loud gasp was heard and everyone turned to Prince Christian, who had only just now seemed to catch on. He turned to Danielle, his shaky hands now clutching at her shoulders. "Is it true... are you with chi-child?" The blonde gave a defeated nod. "And you are certain... that I am the father?" Danielle dropped her gaze to the floor and nodded again. The prince stood still, his hands still on the blonde's shoulders and too stunned to know what to say.
To break the silence, King Maximillian spoke again. "Son, it seems you have responsibility over another live now. I will allow the girl to remain at the castle where she can be properly looked after. You will make sure to do anything in your power to see to her every need. You are not to leave her side." The prince stared at his father, his shoulder slumped. He was about to open his mouth in protest but when he saw the stern expression on the king's face, he kept his lips pressed together.
"Furthermore," the king stood from his throne again, "after the way you endangered the court, the lives of my men, and the stability of the kingdom, I have come to the conclusion that you are not able to handle the responsibility of the throne, after I am gone." The prince's eyes went wide. "You are no longer next in line, Christian. When I die, and my sister truly refuses her right to claim the throne..." he sent a slightly accusative look toward Miranda, "... then Serena will become queen." A wave of shocked whispers travelled through the great hall and Andy spotted Emily clapping her hands in delight.
"But father!" Prince Christian tried. The king, however, held up his hand and spoke evenly, with the same calculated calm that Andy had heard coming from Miranda. "Silence, son! You will go and take you wife-to-be and your unborn child and find them chambers. I will not discuss this matter any further." After a long glare at his father, the prince finally ordered the guards to untie Danielle, and then proceeded to pull her up the carpeted staircase and out of the great hall, through the upper door.
Andy was at a complete loss now, and if it weren't for Miranda's hand still holding on to her, tying her to the reality, she would surely believe she had gone mad. Her evil stepmother had turned out to be a bandit leader, responsible for numerous thefts, and two casualties over the past years. Her father had then, more or less unknowingly, sold off the stolen goods on his journeys to other towns and villages, returning with the profits for Clarissa to spend. Danielle had been meeting Prince Christian to get information out of him about the shipments of goods and had gotten herself pregnant in the process. And now the prince was a father-to-be, no longer crown prince, and most importantly, soon-to-be Andy's brother-in-law?
King Maximillian motioned for Richard to come closer. Andy felt anxious for her father, the idea of him spending time in a cell made her chest heavy with worry. He looked fragile and as if shock had drained most of the life out of him. She wasn't sure he would last for thirty days behind bars. "Richard Sachston," the king addressed him. "I find it hard to believe that you never once questioned where the goods came from that your wife had you sell. What do you have to say for yourself?" Andy tensed when she watched her father's shoulders shake.
"I... I knew something was up, your majesty, but I never asked. I never wanted to know the truth." Richard lowered his head and studied the black and white marble tiles on the floor. "I made a deal with Clarissa about five years ago. She demanded that I work for her, and travel around to sell various items. At first I didn't want to do it, but..." He slightly raised his eyes to give Andy an insecure look. "I agreed to it under the condition that Clarissa would stop hitting my daughter."
Andy felt Miranda's hand tighten around her own and she realized that the only reason that her stepmother had stopped physically abusing her years ago was because her father had agreed to work for Clarissa. Her heart warmed at the thought that her father had indeed cared about here all those years, that he had done what he knew best to protect her.
The king looked thoughtfully from Andy to Miranda and then back at Richard when he spoke. "I know what it is like to lose a wife, and I know I would do anything to protect my own daughter from harm." Serena, who had resumed her position by his side, beamed. "So I will let you go." Relief flickered across Richard's face but he carefully eyed his daughter next to Miranda and hesitantly cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, may I ask... what has happened with my daughter? I don't quite understand yet why she is here. Will she be allowed to return home?"
The king gave a friendly smile and then raised an eyebrow at his sister. "Mira? Care to explain?" Miranda looked into Andy's eyes quizzically. The blue, now completely warm, drew Andy in and took away all remaining anxiety about her father. She trusted the older woman with her life, and she knew her father deserved to know the truth, so she gave a gentle nod for the princess to proceed. Miranda stood and walked down a few steps toward Richard.
"Andréa is here, because I had to rescue her from your lunatic wife." Her voice was slightly icy but Andy knew that Miranda just wanted to make a point. "She's been taken care of over the past few days and was welcome to stay. And from now on she may consider this..." at this princess turned to face Andy. "... her home." The warmth and love in the older woman's face reached out to Andy and the girl couldn't help but swoon a little. Her father, however, still looked unconvinced.
"Her home? But her home is back with me, at the estate. Why would she stay here?" Miranda spun around to glare at him. "Listen, your daughter is old enough to make her own choices." Then her features softened a little and she continued in a calm tone. "Andréa has many talents that are useful at the royal court. She's friendly, caring and an inspiration to those around her. And I..." Miranda had to take a deep breath. "... I really, really care about her."
Richard looked from the princess to Andy and then at the king, who just held up his hands as if to say that it was beyond his power. Andy slowly walked down the steps toward her father. Now that she knew the great lengths he'd gone to for her, she wanted to tell him the absolute truth, but she was terrified of his reaction. Miranda ordered the guards to untie his wrists and once his hands were free Richard gingerly rubbed the reddened skin. "Andy?"
Fresh tears jumped into her eyes as she stepped closer to take her father's hands. "Father..." She faltered. When he looked at her, his gaze began to change. Suddenly clarity sprang into his eyes, as if he saw his daughter for the very first time. "My Andy... you're... you're glowing." He raised a hand to her cheek. "When did you grow up and become a young woman?" He said softly, wonder colouring his face with a vibrancy Andy hadn't seen there for a decade. "You're beautiful, my daughter..." Richard's eyes were shiny and Andy realized it was the first time she had seen him cry after her mother had passed away.
"You look so much like Elizabeth." The tears were now running down his cheeks, leaving shimmering trails on his reddened features. "But you're also you, still the bashful girl I took out riding and hunting." He wiped at the wetness on his face. "Still my little Andy." At this the girl leaned forward and crushed her father in a tight embrace. "Father..."
She buried her face in his neck and revelled in the feeling of finally being held by her father again after so many years. She had always believed that he had stopped loving her and that he had somehow blamed her for her mother's death. As he embraced her tightly, Andy knew that he had only been running away from his own pain over losing the love of his life, and now that she knew that kind of love, Andy's heart felt heavy for him. "Father... I wish to stay here, at the castle." He drew away from her, questions shining through his gaze. "I wish to stay with Miranda." Andy entwined her fingers with the princess'. "I'm happy here, father."
Richard narrowed his gaze at their joined hands and then looked at the white-haired princess, a hundred different thoughts seemingly rushing through his head. Before he could say anything, Miranda spoke up, her voice clear and honest. "I love your daughter. I swear I will never harm her in any way. I will protect her and make sure she has everything she could ever possibly need." Andy gazed pleadingly at her father who seemed to be at a complete loss for words. Miranda continued. "If you wish, you may remain at the castle as well. Andréa has told me about your past as a horse breeder. We need somebody to look after the royal horses."
"Oh yes. Father, please!" Andy chimed in and Richard looked at his daughter, studying the excited flush on her cheeks and the obvious way she cared about the princess. "Father, just say yes. Stay here with me. You would get to work with horses again! We could even go out riding together, like we used to..." The memory of their past rides together seemed to trigger something in Andy's father and he looked at Miranda, then the king and then slowly nodded. Andy threw herself into his arms again. Miranda had been right, everything would indeed be alright.
"It's settled then." The king said as he sat back down in his throne and waved his hand. "Mira, see to it that our new stable master here is assigned some bedchambers and begins work immediately. Serena, would you check on your brother and make sure he is not running away?"
Andy chuckled as she moved out of her father's embrace and turned to Miranda who pulled her close and spoke softly into her ear. "Did I not tell you that it would be alright?" Andy sighed, all tension leaving her body at the contact with the older woman. "Yes. Thank you. For everything." Miranda gently ran her hand through the girl's hair. "No need to thank me, darling. I'd do anything for you."
A slightly embarrassed looking Richard cleared his throat and Andy pulled away from the princess with a giggle. "Come on, father, let's go to the stables!"
***
Later that day Andy found herself riding on Jura through the snow-covered forest with the sun warming her cheeks and the gentle chatter of her companions wrapping her in a surreal cloud of contentment. Miranda rode by her side on her white mare, staying close enough for their thighs to occasionally touch. The princess had put on her clothes from the first day, when her and Andy had met. The red tunic, tight, white stockings and cream coloured, long-sleeved shirt looked even more enticing now that Andy knew what lay beneath. Miranda's riding cloak flapped in the wind and Andy was lost in watching the rise and fall of the older woman's hips as she elegantly moved with the horse. Images from her dream rushing back before her eyes, Andy had to avert her gaze in order not to blush.
"Pleasant thoughts, I hope?" the older woman teased. Andy smiled at her sweetly and leaned closer, while keeping a firm grip on the saddle, and whispered, "You know, that first night I slept in the castle? After you had rescued me and we had ridden together, my back so deliciously pressing into you?" A flush graced the princess' complexion and Andy had to bite the inside of her cheek to refrain from laughing. "Well, that night I had the most wonderfully arousing dream about our bodies moving together as one. Me pressing into you, both of us unclothed, and your hand..." she demonstrated by running her own hand slowly down her abdomen, "... sensually touching me everywhere."
The princess gulped audibly while trying to keep a straight face as Andy burst into giggles, too enamoured by the adorable expression on the older woman's features. "You know, it made this morning extra special." She wriggled her eyebrows and Miranda playfully smacked at her arm and rolled her eyes as she softly moaned. "Oh no, I think I have created a monster!"
"Ladies, wait a moment please!" Nigel called from a few yards behind them. They halted their horses and glanced back. Nigel and Douglas where sitting side by side on two matching coal stallions, and the young apprentice had turned his head to look at the rest of their troupe who had dismounted a few yards further back. Richard was stepping through the snow, his crossbow at the ready and his eyes focused on something in the distance. Emily and Serena were on either side of him, both wearing similar outfits to Miranda's and their own crossbows in hand. Richard was talking quietly and Emily, in complete concentration, nodded and began to aim at a group of trees in the distance.
Andy squinted and saw a young deer feed at the base of a tree and sorrow filled her heart. She had always enjoyed hunting, but that had been because she had needed the meat or skin. Now that she could have all the food in the kingdom, she felt sad at the thought of Emily killing a young animal just for the fun of it. She looked at her father, who leaned closer to the redhead and gave last minute instructions, and she knew she should just be happy that her father was out riding and hunting again, and that Emily had found someone, other than Miranda, to look up to. Nevertheless the thought of unnecessarily killing an animal hurt and she turned away, just in time to see Miranda propel her arm forward and release something from her hand.
A dull thud was heard when the large snowball hit Emily on the side of her head, pushing her feathered hat askew. Everyone immediately faced Andy and the redhead dangerously narrowed her eyes when Miranda suddenly broke out in laughter. "I'm sorry! I couldn't help it!" Emily tossed her crossbow into the snow and shrieked. "WHAT!? I cannot believe you just did that, Your Highness!" She bent down to grab a large handful of snow and quickly formed a round shape, her eyes never leaving the white-haired princess, who was still reeling with laughter on the back of her horse.
The retaliation snowball was well-aimed but Miranda had quickly moved her head out of the way and gave Emily a triumphant grin. "Please bore somebody else with your fruitless attempts to sunder my greatness." Andy could not help a giggle but then watched with big eyes how Nigel and Douglas slid of their horses, and together with Richard, Serena and a nearly steaming Emily they bent down to eagerly scrape together more ammunition.
"Oh-oh," Andy exclaimed, but Miranda knew better than to just remain a sitting target. "Andréa, let's go." And she dug her heels into Niko's sides and began to gallop away through the snow. "Miranda, wait for me!" Andy yelled, ducking the first few snowballs that rained down on her, and clicking her tongue for Jura to dash after the older woman. She heard frustrated screams mixed with laughter behind her as she caught up with Miranda and together they raced over the large expanse of white fields before them.
Miranda was still laughing and the sound sent sweet ripples down Andy's spine. They gazed at each other and the sparkle in the ice-blue, mischievous eyes filled Andy's heart with so much love that she was sure her chest would combust. She reached over and the older woman tenderly clasped her hand, entwining their fingers and giving Andy a look full of love and affection, and many sweet promises for the future.
The pounding hooves of their horses catapulted sprays of snow up behind them, as they rode, side-by-side, their capes flying behind them, into the afternoon sun.
And they lived happily Ever After.
The End
<3
Rating: NC-17 (it became sort of smutty... >_>)
Pairing: Andy/Miranda
Length: 9000 (this chapter)
Summary: AU, sort of a crossover with “ Three wishes/hazelnuts for Cinderella”.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Cinderella or the Devil Wears Prada, I only (ab)use them for fangirl moments!
A/N: Sorry it took so long, I was so stressed out by my exam that I could not really write that much... BUT I passed!!! And now I used my euphoria to finish the story!! ^_^
So, this is the last chapter... it’s a bit long, but that’s because I wanted to tie everything up properly and still fit in some smut and some final fluff.
A/N 2: Oh, btw, when I wrote this chapter I totally pictured Patrick Stewart as the king. ^_^
A/N 3: I hope the scene with the trial isn't too long or too confusing. I don't know how to properly write the "big revealing scene"... fitting in all the info I have in my head, which mostly consists of dialogue, and then still make it sort of flow. :/ I hope it works.
A/N 4: As usual, not beta-read, my mistakes are my own, hope they don't distract too much!
A/N 5: Oh and I really want to thank everyone who’s been reading this story from the beginning! THANK YOU!!! ^_^ I hope you enjoy reading this last chapter! <3
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7
Final Chapter
Andy woke up to delicious warmth buzzing in every corner of her body. Her limbs felt a little stiff, so she slowly wriggled her shoulders and attempted to stretch out her spine like a cat when she suddenly realized that her backside was pressing into soft heat. Her eyes fluttered open and she peered into the darkness. For a moment she was unsure where exactly she was, but a soft hoot and flutter from across the room helped her memories catch up and a tingle sparked in her chest and travelled down her back, along each vertebrae, right into her abdomen. Miranda. Andy heard a very soft snore, almost too light to hear, and she felt a warm breath tickle the hairs on the back of her neck.
She was in Princess Miranda's bed, after a night of... wonderfully delightful pleasure... and love. Feeling her cheeks flush from the intensity of the their lovemaking Andy buried her violently grinning face into her hands. A luscious feeling radiated from inside of her and she felt exquisitely sweet and sticky, a little bit sore, and a little bit naughty, however all of it in a good way. The area between her thighs throbbed at the memory of Miranda's loving ministrations and Andy instinctively pushed back into the soft body spooning her.
She heard soft mumbling in her hair and a long arm was languidly slung around her waist, pulling her closer. "Good morning, my sweet Andréa." Her chest was humming heavily with love and Andy slipped her hand across the warm appendage on her middle to tightly grasp Miranda's hand and tenderly trace the older woman’s knuckles with her index finger. "Good morning, Miranda." She felt herself press back with a roll of her hips and felt the princess smile into her neck. "Hmmm..."
A second arm snaked its way under her head and bent back at the elbow to tenderly caress her hair, while the hand on her waist began to rub slow circles across her naked belly. Miranda pressed her entire body against Andy in a single slow wave and the girl had to gasp at the gentle pressure of the princess' breasts against her back. A warm knee nudged her legs forward and the hand on her stomach moved back over her hip to sensually stroke her behind and down the back of her thighs.
The pool of molten heat below her navel was already flooding toward the junction of her legs, and now that she recognized the sensation and knew it for what it was, she revelled in it and readily opened her thighs to welcome Miranda's seeking hand to slip in between from behind. A gentle finger slid up through her moist heat and began to rub rhythmic circles across the sensitive little bundle, while the warm groin behind her pressed into her. It made her shudder with pleasure and memories of the previous night flashed before her eyes, driving up her heart rate.
Andy reached back with her right arm to pull at Miranda's soft backside in rhythm with the hand stroking between her legs, and they rolled their hips in unison, gentle yet firm. The older woman's hot mouth locked onto Andy's skin and a strong tongue began massaging the muscle between her neck and shoulder. Wishing to face her lover but unwilling to lose the current sensations, Andy reached up and grabbed the left hand caressing her hair with her own and tenderly entwined their fingers, bringing the older woman's fingers to her lips for soft kisses.
Growing more demanding, the fingers pressed between her legs more firmly and Andy rolled into them, urging them to go lower and to where she knew she needed them the most. "Hmmm, darling, you're not too sore?" The older woman whispered sweetly against her cheek as her fingers hesitantly circled Andy's opening. "Yes... no! Miranda..." She wasn't sure she could form a coherent answer. All she was certain of was that she needed the princess to touch her, deep inside. So she rolled her hips one more time, causing the tips of Miranda's fingers to slip lower.
Miranda's knee pressed to part her legs even wider and also served to push the hand more firmly against Andy's core. "Hmmm, Miranda... please..." The wild animal in her threatened to leap out and forcefully grab at that teasing hand. She kissed the older woman's left fingers vigorously, licking and sucking them into her mouth in an attempt to pull her closer. Miranda gasped against her neck and with a firm push of her hips and knee she slipped two fingers into the welcoming heat, eliciting a guttural groan from the girl.
The sensation was even more filling than the night before. From this angle the penetration reached deeper and stretched her more firmly. Knowing that she was Miranda's and that the princess loved her, filled Andy with such complete and utter trust that she raised her legs and opened herself even wider to the older woman's touch. All shyness had disappeared and the only thing that mattered now was their physical and spiritual connection. She let go of Miranda's backside and moved her hand to the front, sneaking between her own legs and over the warm, slippery fingers, which so deviously disappeared inside her body.
She covered the older woman's hand with her own as the sensation of their united movements, not unlike a sensual dance, fed the raging fire inside of her. Their bodies, rubbing together, had created so much heat that Miranda was sliding easily against her back on a thin layer of sweat, allowing their motions to become more frantic. Hearing the princess exhale muffled moans against the side of her throat pulled Andy even closer to the edge and out of reflex she pushed the heel of her right palm against the throbbing bundle of nerves above her entrance, while still keeping the tips of her fingers rhythmically pressed against the hand plunging inside her core. Being enveloped so fully by Miranda, and actually feeling her strong sculptor fingers driving in and out of her, not only with her clenching center, but also with her own hand, carried Andy faster and faster down the wild river.
The older woman's thrusts became more forceful and Andy realized with a moan that Miranda was pushing herself against her backside, leaving wet trails against Andy's skin. The thought of the princess being just as needing and ready as herself, pushed her quickly toward the thunderous cliff and Andy rolled her hips even faster, her internal muscles clutching onto the deeply stroking fingers. She was so wet and slippery now that she could barely feel the friction anymore. The older woman seemed to not be pleased about that, and without warning she added a third finger, deliciously stretching Andy just that bit more, sending her crashing over the edge, pressing into the tight embrace and thrashing backward against Miranda's wet groin.
The princess ground jerkily against the girl's soft backside and their mutual groans echoed into the darkness as their bodies went rigid, seemingly floating in midair, their ragged breaths halted in their throats, which arched against each other in their need to be even closer. Ever so slowly their muscles relaxed and Miranda sweetly kissed Andy's slick neck while the girl kept resting her head against the older woman's shoulder, inhaling large gulps of air. The princess' chest was rising heavily against her back and Andy reached to fully cover the hand still resting inside of her.
"Hmmm... Miranda," she moaned in what sounded more like a purr. They languidly pushed their hips together again and the princess grinned into the girl's shoulder. "Oh darling, that was so incredibly exquisite." Andy wanted to desperately turn around and kiss the older woman but she did not want to let go of the warm fingers in between her still pulsing inner walls. "Miranda, I want to kiss you..." Soft kisses were trailing up her neck and Miranda mumbled against her skin. "Then turn around..." Andy instinctively pressed more firmly against the hand between her legs and closed her thighs, effectively trapping it. The older woman gave a surprised gasp which turned into a small giggle once she understood.
"Alright darling, lie on your back," she instructed and tenderly slid out her left arm from under the girl's head. Andy slowly turned around, the fingers inside of her twisting and causing a delicious sting against her swollen flesh. The small gasp escaping her lips was quickly muffled as the older woman pressed her mouth to Andy's. "Hello..." the girl sheepishly whispered once they pulled away. Miranda nuzzled her cheek and placed little butterfly kisses along her jaw-line. "Darling, now bend and raise your right leg for me." Andy complied and had to moan as the fingers inside of her turned again and pushed even deeper as the older woman helped push up her knee and crawled to lie in between her legs, slowly rolling her hips against their joined hands.
They both moaned again. Dawn had softly begun to illuminate the room and Andy could make out the princess throwing back her white locks at the contact. She loved Miranda so much. She wanted to stay like this forever, their bodies moving as one, their spirits interlocked in a sweet mixture of tenderness and desire. When the older woman bent down to kiss her deeply, lowering her sticky chest to Andy's and letting her soft, white tresses caress her cheeks, the girl swiftly turned her wrist and pressed her wet palm between Miranda's thighs, eliciting another moan from the older woman. "Hmmm,... oh darling I love you so very much." They kissed again, their tongues sliding together in renewed need, hips rolling in a new dance.
Almost on their own account, two of Andy's fingers slipped into Miranda's messy heat, causing the older woman to buck her hips and welcome them with a deep groan. She spread her knees upward, widening Andy's in the process and their hands moved deeper inside each other. "M... Miranda!" Their free arms wrapped around their shoulders in a tight embrace, pushing them even closer as they lay panting, cheek to cheek. Andy's right arm was burning, next to Miranda's, pressed between their two bodies in an almost painful hold, but they both pushed deeper and began to curl their fingers up in simultaneous thrusts.
Blind need took over as they moved together with forceful movements and heavy panting. Andy was sore and her arm was going numb, but she wanted the princess so much that it nearly tore her soul in half. She could barely concentrate on her fingers inside the older woman as Miranda's own digits firmly stroked that spot deeply inside of her. The first tremors began to shake through her and she threw up her feet and clamped her heels down firmly against Miranda's clenched backside, pulling her impossibly closer. Miranda was loudly groaning into Andy's neck as they crashed together in an explosive release, their walls tightening around their fingers simultaneously.
They clung to each other in desperation as the intensity thrashed their bodies and spirits together in a tempestuous swirl. Andy knew then that no other person could ever exist for her beside Miranda. The princess meant everything to her and she wanted to never live another day without her by her side. As she tumbled through sweet oblivion, holding on to the hot body in her arms and between her legs, she felt such profound happiness, such sweet contentment, that all the horrors of the past ten years seemed to fall away and disappear.
They carefully landed back on earth and Andy felt hot wetness against her neck as she realized that the princess was crying. "Miranda..." She gently lowered her legs back to the mattress and removed both their hands. Tightly embracing the older woman, she rolled them on their sides and tenderly ran her fingers through Miranda's soft hair. "Miranda, my love. Are you alright?" The answer was a tightening of arms around her and a gentle nod against her neck. Andy rubbed soothing circles on her back and then reached for the discarded covers to wrap them back into a cocoon of warmth. “Shh, my love. I’ve got you.” Miranda nuzzled the curve between her neck and shoulder and sighed. “I’m alright, darling. Just a little... overwhelmed.”
It was fully light outside now and the first tendrils of sunlight came flooding through the window. Andy moved her head to sweetly kiss the older woman's forehead and then languidly stroked through the white locks. After a while Miranda pulled away slightly so they could finally look into each other's eyes. They both sighed at the amount of love they found within. Andy remembered the first time their eyes had met in a confusingly intense gaze. She had not understood it then, how two souls could be destined for one another. Now, looking into the clear, blue eyes, shining back at her with utmost affection and devotion, she knew in her heart that Miranda and her were meant to be one. Kindred souls bound together by a the strings of fate.
"I love you, Miranda," she tenderly pressed their noses together and the princess gave her a sweet smile. "And I you, my darling." They held each other close and basked in the afterglow, nuzzling their cheeks and occasionally planting soft kisses and sighing in contentment. "Hmmm, I think we need a bath," Miranda said after a while, crinkling her nose. Andy lowered her eyelashes and whispered, "But I like the way you smell." To demonstrate she buried her face in the crook of the older woman's neck and inhaled deeply. "Hmmm, so nice..." It caused the princess to chuckle and she squeezed the girl in her arms. "Yes, you may enjoy it, however the rest of the castle..." A finger poked into Andy’s side and they broke out in giggles.
***
A few hours later Andy found herself walking through the many hallways once again. They had bathed together, had shared a delicious breakfast and the princess had offered Andy a sip of her coffee. The strange brown brew had intrigued the girl, however once her tongue had tasted the scalding liquid she had gagged violently at the bitter flavour, much to the older woman's amusement. It was hard to imagine that anyone could experience pleasure from drinking it, however Andy did rather enjoy tasting it later, on Miranda’s lips. It added to the sweet and spicy flavour of the older woman’s mouth and Andy knew that coffee would forever be tied to the feeling of Miranda’s tongue sensually caressing her own.
Andy looked at the princess walking beside her. From the very moment they had met, she had been drawn to Miranda's beauty, the fire in her icy gaze and the passion she had subconsciously known to lie deep within. As they walked quietly toward the great hall, holding hands and sheepishly smiling at one another, she felt as if that beauty and passion had somehow extended to herself. She was a different person now. Or maybe she wasn't really different; it felt more like their night and morning together had awoken a part of Andy that had been present all of her life, but had remained in deep slumber in the shadows of her soul. That part of her had now stepped out and merged with who Andy had been for the past twenty years. She loved the new, yet familiar person she had found staring back at her from the mirror this morning.
"Nervous?" The older woman interrupted her thoughts, looking at her quizzically and squeezing Andy's hand. "Hmmm? Oh... that. Yes, a little. I mostly just wish to know what is going on." They turned into another hallway, their steps echoing across the smooth stone floors. "Andréa, I will try my best to assure that your father won't be harmed. However if he is guilty, he still needs to face punishment." Andy nodded and looked down at their joined hands. "Yes, I understand, and I would not expect any less." Miranda came to a stop and gently lifted the girl's chin with her free hand. "I love you." Tender fingers moved a few unruly strands from Andy's face and soft lips were pressed to the girl's cheek.
"Good morning, you two lovebirds," a soft voice called from behind them. Andy pulled her head away but firmly held on to the older woman's hand, as they turned to see Serena and Emily walk up. The younger princess searched Andy's face and found something that made her break out in a wide smile. She leaned forward to hug Miranda. "I'm so happy for you, auntie." The older woman's cheeks flushed but her lips could not hide their slight curl. Andy was confused and looked between the two princesses. "How... how can you know...?" Emily stepped closer and wrinkled her nose. "It's just dripping off of you two."
Andy's eyes went big, as embarrassment forced up her hand to cover the reddened cheeks. Miranda elegantly raised an eyebrow. "Ashamed?" The older woman's gaze was narrowed but Andy recognized the warmth shining through the cool blue and it engulfed her with affection and lured her out. She boldly bridged the distance between their faces and pressed her lips sweetly to Miranda's. Surprised but pleased eyes twinkled at her when she pulled back. "Never."
Emily had turned her head away, the blush on her cheeks and neck accentuated by her red tresses. Serena, however, just beamed at her aunt and then at Andy. "Now. I think we should go. Father will be waiting." The older woman nodded and pulled Andy along as the four of them continued into the great hall. Andy felt uneasy about seeing the king again after her loss of control the previous day, and she wasn’t sure how she should behave or where she was expected to be, during the hearing.
To her surprise Miranda led her down the large staircase and onto the carpeted platform next to the empty throne where a second chair stood, only slightly less intricate than the king’s. The older woman sat down elegantly and pulled Andy closer to her face. “Please remain by my side. And do not speak unless spoken to. Understood?” Andy nodded gingerly as she watched the king regally descend the stairs and stride up toward the throne. Miranda squeezed the girl’s hand and then let go. “It will be alright. Trust me, darling.” With that she turned to her brother and briefly dipped her chin. The king sat and raised his hand in a small wave to signal the guards to begin.
Andy straightened her shoulders and glanced at Serena, who stood by the king’s side and gave an encouraging smile. The great hall filled with more people and Andy recognized Douglas and Nigel leaning on the balustrade of the second level and her friend wriggled his fingers in a slight wave. Emily had taken up a spot in the back, leaning lazily against one of the Corinthian columns, her arms crossed and her face a picture of indifference. Numerous servants and official looking folk lined the sides of the lower level and Andy felt her heart sink as she looked in their faces. The excited but hushed whispers and expectant faces told her that people would not be subjective. Then again, how subjective would she, herself, be if her father hadn’t been one of the suspects?
The large doors on the far wall swung open and the captain of the royal guard marched in, followed by his men leading the group of bandits and making them stand before the king. The suspects were all chained together at the hands behind their backs, but their wounds had been addressed and their appearance seemed less rugged. Andy searched for Richard, however to her surprise she realized that he was not amongst them. She began to lean down to Miranda to question the absence of her father, but the princess quietly held up a finger to stop her before she could open her mouth. Andy straightened her shoulders again and glanced back down at the men, when the king rose from his throne.
“Which one of you is the leader?” he asked evenly. The bandits all looked to the floor, neither of them willing to speak up. The king clasped his hands behind his back and began to slowly pace back and forth. “Clearly a lot of thought and planning has gone into the way your attacks have been carried out. Despite the constantly changing routes of the caravans you have always found ways to intercept at the weakest point.” The king stopped pacing and looked down to the men. “I have trouble believing that this has simply been the result of lucky guesses by a group of brutes.”
One of the men, he seemed only a boy to Andy, began to tremble but kept his head low as the king stepped down before the bandits and began to stroke his beard. “I am not so much annoyed at the loss of a few goods, however I have lost two of my best men, thanks to you.” At this the young bandit raised his face and looked at the king with shock widening his eyes. “Yes, two of my men died as a result of injuries inflicted by the robbers.” He stopped in front of the boy, pinning him down with a calm stare. “Both left behind wives and children.” Tears sprang into the young bandits eyes and his lips were shaking.
Something inside of Andy cried out for the boy, although she realized he was a suspect of a double murder now. She watched as the king commenced his walk in front of the bandits. “Now. I have the suspicion that there is more involved than you lot hiding in the thicket, waiting for royal shipments to coincidentally pass by.” His voice remained low and even and Andy recognized a similarity to the way Miranda had spoken when she had confronted Clarissa. ”Unless every single one of you wishes to receive punishment for taking the lives of my two men, I want to know who your leader is.” A majority of the bandits raised their heads and Andy saw fear in their faces. She wasn’t quite sure whether they were scared of the king and the threat of punishment or whether they were actually fearful of whoever their leader was.
The boy, tears now freely running down his cheeks, began to mumble and the king stopped in his tracks, turning back toward him. “You need to speak up, son.” The other men jerked their heads toward their young group member with terror written on their features. “We... we just do as we’re told! But... but we never... ever meant to hurt anyone... let alone... ki... kill...” Stepping closer the king nodded. “Your leader, is he among you now?” The boy shook his head and hiccupped loudly, sobs violently shaking his thin body. Signalling to the guard captain, the king instructed for the other prisoner to be brought in. Andy held her breath. No, surely her father wasn’t a bandit leader, responsible for the deaths of two of the king’s men. She simply could not believe it.
The doors opened again and two guards led in Richard. His hands were bound on his back and he looked defeated and tired. Andy’s heart ached at the image and she had to fight tears when her father was brought before the king who gazed at him long and hard. Andy had trouble breathing, her chest heavy with anxiety, and she pressed a hand against her heart, willing it to calm down. Gentle fingers touched her arm and stroked down to her wrist. Miranda wasn’t looking at her, eyes focused on King Maximillian, but her fingers sought out Andy’s and softly caressed the girl’s palm.
The king looked back at the young bandit and raised his finger toward Richard. “Is this man the leader?” The kid looked at Andy’s father who looked back with his brows drawn together in a pleading gaze. Shaking his head slowly the boy turned back to the king. “No, your Majesty.” Richard’s shoulders slumped at this, which confused Andy. It was obvious that her father had wished for a different answer and Andy couldn’t figure out why, if he indeed was the bandit leader and the brain behind the robberies, why would he not appreciate the kid lying for him?
“What is his role then, son?” The king put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “He... he takes the goods off our hands and then resells them in different towns.” At this King Maximillian turned around to look at Miranda and at the girl behind her, as if making sure that both had heard what the boy had said. Richard followed the king’s gaze and finally noticed Andy, hovering behind the king’s sister and holding her hand. Confusion clear on his features he was about to speak when the king stepped in front of him. “Tell me the truth now.” The king’s clear blue eyes bore into Richard. “Who is the brain behind all this? Who orchestrated the robberies and has set up quite the impressive black market trading emporium in my kingdom?”
Richard shook his head. “I cannot tell you, your Majesty. I must protect my family.” The king thoughtfully stroked his beard and then asked softly. “Are you?” The man before him furrowed his brows in question so the king briefly nodded his head behind him, indicating the girl at Princess Miranda's side. “Protecting them?” Richard glanced at his daughter and his eyes went wide. Andy was on the verge of crying. She didn’t understand what was happening and she felt torn between fear, anger and total confusion. The older woman’s finger’s firmly held on to her hand when Richard struggled forward, the guards holding him back by his bound hands. “Why is my daughter here? Is she also a prisoner? She has done nothing wrong!” His voice was suddenly full of emotion. “You can’t use her like that. I won’t have her be treated that way!”
At this Miranda abruptly let go of Andy’s hand and stood at the edge of the small platform. “But you would have her be tied up and beaten by your wife?!” It was still Miranda’s typical low and icy tone but there was a very unsteady edge to it. The entire hall had suddenly gone quiet and all eyes were directed at the princess who stood on the red carpet, one hand on her hip, the other in mid-air, pointing at Richard who had paled considerably. “Wh-what?” he stuttered. Slowly walking down the steps, white lock softly bobbing off her forehead, Miranda crossed her arms. “Yes.” She stood beside the king and drilled icy daggers into Richard with her gaze. “Two days ago I arrived at your estate in search of my Andréa and I found her... locked up in the attic...” Ice cold fire seemed to lunge from the princess and onto the chalk-white man. “...tied to a chair, nearly frozen to death and... beaten.” The last word was spat at Richard whose eyes were shiny and large with shock.
Andy could no longer watch and quickly descended the steps to reach for Miranda. The older woman turned at the touch, her eyes livid and full of hurt. Andy silently pleaded for Miranda to stop, thick tears freely streaming down her cheeks, and as soon as their gazes locked the older woman’s face softened. “Oh darling, I’m sorry.” She immediately wrapped Andy in a warm embrace.
“Is... is this true?” Richard’s shaky voice made the two pull apart and Andy slowly nodded. “It’s alright now, father. I’m alright... I’m safe.” Miranda grabbed her hand at that, for emphasis. Richard looked from his daughter to the princess, confusion shining in his eyes.
“While we’re having this family reunion...” the king said as he motioned to the guard captain again, “... I think it’s time to hear from the other party.” He turned to look at his sister. “Mira?” The older woman nodded and pulled Andy back up toward the chair, keeping their fingers locked. The large doors at the end of the hall opened again and a high-pitched voice was heard, yelling obscenities. “Would you get your filthy hands off me! I am a countess, I will not be handled this way!” Andy flinched and Miranda soothingly rubbed the back of her hand.
Trying to shake off the three guards pulling at her, was the large figure of Clarissa. Behind her, head bowed low and taking slow, solemn steps, was Danielle. Both were led before the king and the countess looked to her right to find her husband staring at her, anger shining from his eyes. “Richard! Don’t let them treat me like this! Do something!” He continued to look at her with contempt and Clarissa struggled against the three guards to step closer to him. “What is going on here?!” She demanded.
“You tell me, Clarissa,” her husband replied through clenched teeth. “I just found out that the goods you had me sell were actually stolen... from the king of all people!” The countess stepped back, her eyes big and her mouth hanging open crookedly. “And then I hear that you beat... my daughter!?” The last was practically yelled out and the king cleared his throat and motioned for the guards to pull Clarissa and Richard further apart. “If you two could be quiet, please.” He briefly turned around to nod at Serena, who quietly moved up to the second level and disappeared through the upper door.
Andy felt as if she had somehow landed in a surreal dream. Seeing her father and stepmother being sternly addressed by King Maximillian while Miranda was gently stroking her hand was absurd. She had no idea whether she should laugh or cry, be unsettled or calm. Her eyes moved up to Douglas who just looked down at the scene with wide eyes, a hand held over his mouth and Nigel’s arm slung over left shoulder for comfort. Andy took a deep breath and then looked at Miranda. The older woman was looking at her lovingly and with concern, her eyes communicating that Andy should trust her. Squeezing their joint hands, Andy nodded and then looked back down at the king who was now addressing Clarissa.
“Countess, would you care to explain to me why you have hired a group of men to intercept shipments of goods, destined for the castle?” Clarissa narrowed her small eyes at the king but said nothing. “It must have been rather lucrative to have your unsuspecting husband resell our valuable eastern fabrics and spices. Our coffee...” At this Miranda tensed and Andy began to feel even more hatred toward her stepmother. So it had been her who had stolen Miranda’s coffee. Reminded of how the brew tasted on the princess’ lips, Andy thought that even after everything Clarissa had done to her, this was by far the worst offense. How dare she touch something that belonged to Miranda!
The king paced in front of Clarissa, Danielle and Richard. “I wonder, though, how you managed to know, each and every time we altered the routes, exactly where and when to strike.” He stopped in front of Danielle and regarded her evenly. “It almost seems as if you’ve had help from inside the castle...” Andy watched her stepsister’s eyes widen. What was going on?
“Father? You wanted to see me?” Prince Christian called from the upper level before taking in the scene below. The king motioned for him to come down. “Yes, son. Come here.” Clarissa’s eyes hardened and Danielle began to sport a furious blush. The Prince was hesitant as he drew closer, his eyes locked on Danielle. He came to stand beside his father who put a calming hand on his shoulder. “Son, I assume you know the countess and her daughter?” Andy watched with a hint of disgusted pleasure as both the prince and her stepsister blushed a deep crimson. She really did not want to know this, but in a way, these two truly and utterly deserved each other.
“Er... yes, father. I mean... I know Danielle,” the prince answered, now calm enough to wink at the blond girl in front of him. The king leaned closer to his son. “And, did you happen to talk to this girl... about recent shipments? You know, shipments of goods of which I have given you full responsibility of, to see whether you could handle running a country in the future...” It was uttered calmly, but Andy recognized the venomous edge to it. The prince immediately straightened his shoulders and then looked from Danielle to her mother, to Richard and the bandits, who were all surrounded by guards. Andy could literally see the cogs turning in his head.
“Oh... OH!!!” His eyes went wide and he looked at his father. “I... I had no idea!” The king shook his head slowly. “No... of course not, son.” He sounded sad as he patted Prince Christian’s shoulder. “But you did it nonetheless. Endangering the kingdom... costing two of my men’s lives...” The prince’s face went white and he glanced back at Danielle who gave him a sorrowful and apologetic look.
“Now.” King Maximillian straightened and climbed back up the few steps. “Of course I have not figured this out just now. My sister and I have been tracking these robberies for a while.” He sat back down in his throne with a long sigh. “We just did not know exactly who was involved... or why.” The king glanced over at Miranda and continued, “However after Princess Miranda had found my son’s... not-so-secret lover at the same estate that we had been tracking some of the stolen goods to, a lot of things finally clicked into place.”
Andy looked at Miranda in shock but a gentle squeeze silently told her that all would be explained soon. King Maximillian let his gaze wander over the many people standing before him. “Countess, I hold you fully responsible for all the robberies. You will receive punishment for thievery and manslaughter.” He looked at Miranda and then at his son before returning his gaze back to Clarissa. “However, since you are... somewhat tied to the royal family... I will not sentence you to death.” Andy forcibly exhaled a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. She truly hated her stepmother, but she was still relieved that Clarissa would not be hanged.
“So,” the king motioned to the guards. “You will spend the unforeseeable future in the castle dungeon.” Clarissa went pale and as soon as the guards began to pull her away she hurled out a blood-curdling scream. “No! You can’t do this! I’m a countess!” The king stood up and raised his voice a little, so it would carry above her screams. “Oh and your title is hereby revoked.” The no-longer-countess fought against the men and two more guards had to lend a hand in pulling the hysteric woman from the great hall. Once she was gone, an eerie silence fell over everyone, and Andy looked at her father, who was completely in shock, and then at her stepsister who was crying silently, still looking at the prince.
The king took a deep breath and then turned his attention to the lined-up bandits. "You are hereby sentenced to thirty days in confinement. You will do chores on the castle grounds as I see fit and by the time of your release I will make sure your work will be rewarded." He let his gaze linger on the boy. "I hope that in the future, you will refrain from thievery and harming others, and find an honest profession instead." The youngest bandit nodded eagerly and the king acknowledged it with a nod of his own and then signalled the guards to take the group away.
Then he turned to Danielle and Christian. "So. Danielle, was it?" The blonde nodded, apprehensively glancing at the prince. "I was going to throw you into a cell with your mother, if only for a night." At this the girl broke out into sobs and prince Christian instinctively raised a hand to her shoulder for comfort, before he realized what he was doing, and quickly pulled away again. The king continued to speak. "However, my daughter has brought my attention to the fact that you... seem to be carrying an innocent life with you." Danielle's face turned a dark crimson and Prince Christian regarded his father with a blank expression.
Andy studied her stepsister. Were the king and Princess Serena correct? Was Danielle with child? She had always been rather large, Clarissa's eating habits had made sure of that, but now that Andy looked at her stepsister, she realized that there was indeed a small bump pushing through her dress. Glancing up at Douglas, Andy saw that her friend was just as shocked by that revelation. He had measured Danielle and had tailored and fitted clothes for her, but even he had been clueless.
The king cleared his throat to silence the hum of excited whispers that had rushed over the crowd, and then faced the stunned blond girl again. "I will not risk harming what could very well be my first grandchild." A loud gasp was heard and everyone turned to Prince Christian, who had only just now seemed to catch on. He turned to Danielle, his shaky hands now clutching at her shoulders. "Is it true... are you with chi-child?" The blonde gave a defeated nod. "And you are certain... that I am the father?" Danielle dropped her gaze to the floor and nodded again. The prince stood still, his hands still on the blonde's shoulders and too stunned to know what to say.
To break the silence, King Maximillian spoke again. "Son, it seems you have responsibility over another live now. I will allow the girl to remain at the castle where she can be properly looked after. You will make sure to do anything in your power to see to her every need. You are not to leave her side." The prince stared at his father, his shoulder slumped. He was about to open his mouth in protest but when he saw the stern expression on the king's face, he kept his lips pressed together.
"Furthermore," the king stood from his throne again, "after the way you endangered the court, the lives of my men, and the stability of the kingdom, I have come to the conclusion that you are not able to handle the responsibility of the throne, after I am gone." The prince's eyes went wide. "You are no longer next in line, Christian. When I die, and my sister truly refuses her right to claim the throne..." he sent a slightly accusative look toward Miranda, "... then Serena will become queen." A wave of shocked whispers travelled through the great hall and Andy spotted Emily clapping her hands in delight.
"But father!" Prince Christian tried. The king, however, held up his hand and spoke evenly, with the same calculated calm that Andy had heard coming from Miranda. "Silence, son! You will go and take you wife-to-be and your unborn child and find them chambers. I will not discuss this matter any further." After a long glare at his father, the prince finally ordered the guards to untie Danielle, and then proceeded to pull her up the carpeted staircase and out of the great hall, through the upper door.
Andy was at a complete loss now, and if it weren't for Miranda's hand still holding on to her, tying her to the reality, she would surely believe she had gone mad. Her evil stepmother had turned out to be a bandit leader, responsible for numerous thefts, and two casualties over the past years. Her father had then, more or less unknowingly, sold off the stolen goods on his journeys to other towns and villages, returning with the profits for Clarissa to spend. Danielle had been meeting Prince Christian to get information out of him about the shipments of goods and had gotten herself pregnant in the process. And now the prince was a father-to-be, no longer crown prince, and most importantly, soon-to-be Andy's brother-in-law?
King Maximillian motioned for Richard to come closer. Andy felt anxious for her father, the idea of him spending time in a cell made her chest heavy with worry. He looked fragile and as if shock had drained most of the life out of him. She wasn't sure he would last for thirty days behind bars. "Richard Sachston," the king addressed him. "I find it hard to believe that you never once questioned where the goods came from that your wife had you sell. What do you have to say for yourself?" Andy tensed when she watched her father's shoulders shake.
"I... I knew something was up, your majesty, but I never asked. I never wanted to know the truth." Richard lowered his head and studied the black and white marble tiles on the floor. "I made a deal with Clarissa about five years ago. She demanded that I work for her, and travel around to sell various items. At first I didn't want to do it, but..." He slightly raised his eyes to give Andy an insecure look. "I agreed to it under the condition that Clarissa would stop hitting my daughter."
Andy felt Miranda's hand tighten around her own and she realized that the only reason that her stepmother had stopped physically abusing her years ago was because her father had agreed to work for Clarissa. Her heart warmed at the thought that her father had indeed cared about here all those years, that he had done what he knew best to protect her.
The king looked thoughtfully from Andy to Miranda and then back at Richard when he spoke. "I know what it is like to lose a wife, and I know I would do anything to protect my own daughter from harm." Serena, who had resumed her position by his side, beamed. "So I will let you go." Relief flickered across Richard's face but he carefully eyed his daughter next to Miranda and hesitantly cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, may I ask... what has happened with my daughter? I don't quite understand yet why she is here. Will she be allowed to return home?"
The king gave a friendly smile and then raised an eyebrow at his sister. "Mira? Care to explain?" Miranda looked into Andy's eyes quizzically. The blue, now completely warm, drew Andy in and took away all remaining anxiety about her father. She trusted the older woman with her life, and she knew her father deserved to know the truth, so she gave a gentle nod for the princess to proceed. Miranda stood and walked down a few steps toward Richard.
"Andréa is here, because I had to rescue her from your lunatic wife." Her voice was slightly icy but Andy knew that Miranda just wanted to make a point. "She's been taken care of over the past few days and was welcome to stay. And from now on she may consider this..." at this princess turned to face Andy. "... her home." The warmth and love in the older woman's face reached out to Andy and the girl couldn't help but swoon a little. Her father, however, still looked unconvinced.
"Her home? But her home is back with me, at the estate. Why would she stay here?" Miranda spun around to glare at him. "Listen, your daughter is old enough to make her own choices." Then her features softened a little and she continued in a calm tone. "Andréa has many talents that are useful at the royal court. She's friendly, caring and an inspiration to those around her. And I..." Miranda had to take a deep breath. "... I really, really care about her."
Richard looked from the princess to Andy and then at the king, who just held up his hands as if to say that it was beyond his power. Andy slowly walked down the steps toward her father. Now that she knew the great lengths he'd gone to for her, she wanted to tell him the absolute truth, but she was terrified of his reaction. Miranda ordered the guards to untie his wrists and once his hands were free Richard gingerly rubbed the reddened skin. "Andy?"
Fresh tears jumped into her eyes as she stepped closer to take her father's hands. "Father..." She faltered. When he looked at her, his gaze began to change. Suddenly clarity sprang into his eyes, as if he saw his daughter for the very first time. "My Andy... you're... you're glowing." He raised a hand to her cheek. "When did you grow up and become a young woman?" He said softly, wonder colouring his face with a vibrancy Andy hadn't seen there for a decade. "You're beautiful, my daughter..." Richard's eyes were shiny and Andy realized it was the first time she had seen him cry after her mother had passed away.
"You look so much like Elizabeth." The tears were now running down his cheeks, leaving shimmering trails on his reddened features. "But you're also you, still the bashful girl I took out riding and hunting." He wiped at the wetness on his face. "Still my little Andy." At this the girl leaned forward and crushed her father in a tight embrace. "Father..."
She buried her face in his neck and revelled in the feeling of finally being held by her father again after so many years. She had always believed that he had stopped loving her and that he had somehow blamed her for her mother's death. As he embraced her tightly, Andy knew that he had only been running away from his own pain over losing the love of his life, and now that she knew that kind of love, Andy's heart felt heavy for him. "Father... I wish to stay here, at the castle." He drew away from her, questions shining through his gaze. "I wish to stay with Miranda." Andy entwined her fingers with the princess'. "I'm happy here, father."
Richard narrowed his gaze at their joined hands and then looked at the white-haired princess, a hundred different thoughts seemingly rushing through his head. Before he could say anything, Miranda spoke up, her voice clear and honest. "I love your daughter. I swear I will never harm her in any way. I will protect her and make sure she has everything she could ever possibly need." Andy gazed pleadingly at her father who seemed to be at a complete loss for words. Miranda continued. "If you wish, you may remain at the castle as well. Andréa has told me about your past as a horse breeder. We need somebody to look after the royal horses."
"Oh yes. Father, please!" Andy chimed in and Richard looked at his daughter, studying the excited flush on her cheeks and the obvious way she cared about the princess. "Father, just say yes. Stay here with me. You would get to work with horses again! We could even go out riding together, like we used to..." The memory of their past rides together seemed to trigger something in Andy's father and he looked at Miranda, then the king and then slowly nodded. Andy threw herself into his arms again. Miranda had been right, everything would indeed be alright.
"It's settled then." The king said as he sat back down in his throne and waved his hand. "Mira, see to it that our new stable master here is assigned some bedchambers and begins work immediately. Serena, would you check on your brother and make sure he is not running away?"
Andy chuckled as she moved out of her father's embrace and turned to Miranda who pulled her close and spoke softly into her ear. "Did I not tell you that it would be alright?" Andy sighed, all tension leaving her body at the contact with the older woman. "Yes. Thank you. For everything." Miranda gently ran her hand through the girl's hair. "No need to thank me, darling. I'd do anything for you."
A slightly embarrassed looking Richard cleared his throat and Andy pulled away from the princess with a giggle. "Come on, father, let's go to the stables!"
***
Later that day Andy found herself riding on Jura through the snow-covered forest with the sun warming her cheeks and the gentle chatter of her companions wrapping her in a surreal cloud of contentment. Miranda rode by her side on her white mare, staying close enough for their thighs to occasionally touch. The princess had put on her clothes from the first day, when her and Andy had met. The red tunic, tight, white stockings and cream coloured, long-sleeved shirt looked even more enticing now that Andy knew what lay beneath. Miranda's riding cloak flapped in the wind and Andy was lost in watching the rise and fall of the older woman's hips as she elegantly moved with the horse. Images from her dream rushing back before her eyes, Andy had to avert her gaze in order not to blush.
"Pleasant thoughts, I hope?" the older woman teased. Andy smiled at her sweetly and leaned closer, while keeping a firm grip on the saddle, and whispered, "You know, that first night I slept in the castle? After you had rescued me and we had ridden together, my back so deliciously pressing into you?" A flush graced the princess' complexion and Andy had to bite the inside of her cheek to refrain from laughing. "Well, that night I had the most wonderfully arousing dream about our bodies moving together as one. Me pressing into you, both of us unclothed, and your hand..." she demonstrated by running her own hand slowly down her abdomen, "... sensually touching me everywhere."
The princess gulped audibly while trying to keep a straight face as Andy burst into giggles, too enamoured by the adorable expression on the older woman's features. "You know, it made this morning extra special." She wriggled her eyebrows and Miranda playfully smacked at her arm and rolled her eyes as she softly moaned. "Oh no, I think I have created a monster!"
"Ladies, wait a moment please!" Nigel called from a few yards behind them. They halted their horses and glanced back. Nigel and Douglas where sitting side by side on two matching coal stallions, and the young apprentice had turned his head to look at the rest of their troupe who had dismounted a few yards further back. Richard was stepping through the snow, his crossbow at the ready and his eyes focused on something in the distance. Emily and Serena were on either side of him, both wearing similar outfits to Miranda's and their own crossbows in hand. Richard was talking quietly and Emily, in complete concentration, nodded and began to aim at a group of trees in the distance.
Andy squinted and saw a young deer feed at the base of a tree and sorrow filled her heart. She had always enjoyed hunting, but that had been because she had needed the meat or skin. Now that she could have all the food in the kingdom, she felt sad at the thought of Emily killing a young animal just for the fun of it. She looked at her father, who leaned closer to the redhead and gave last minute instructions, and she knew she should just be happy that her father was out riding and hunting again, and that Emily had found someone, other than Miranda, to look up to. Nevertheless the thought of unnecessarily killing an animal hurt and she turned away, just in time to see Miranda propel her arm forward and release something from her hand.
A dull thud was heard when the large snowball hit Emily on the side of her head, pushing her feathered hat askew. Everyone immediately faced Andy and the redhead dangerously narrowed her eyes when Miranda suddenly broke out in laughter. "I'm sorry! I couldn't help it!" Emily tossed her crossbow into the snow and shrieked. "WHAT!? I cannot believe you just did that, Your Highness!" She bent down to grab a large handful of snow and quickly formed a round shape, her eyes never leaving the white-haired princess, who was still reeling with laughter on the back of her horse.
The retaliation snowball was well-aimed but Miranda had quickly moved her head out of the way and gave Emily a triumphant grin. "Please bore somebody else with your fruitless attempts to sunder my greatness." Andy could not help a giggle but then watched with big eyes how Nigel and Douglas slid of their horses, and together with Richard, Serena and a nearly steaming Emily they bent down to eagerly scrape together more ammunition.
"Oh-oh," Andy exclaimed, but Miranda knew better than to just remain a sitting target. "Andréa, let's go." And she dug her heels into Niko's sides and began to gallop away through the snow. "Miranda, wait for me!" Andy yelled, ducking the first few snowballs that rained down on her, and clicking her tongue for Jura to dash after the older woman. She heard frustrated screams mixed with laughter behind her as she caught up with Miranda and together they raced over the large expanse of white fields before them.
Miranda was still laughing and the sound sent sweet ripples down Andy's spine. They gazed at each other and the sparkle in the ice-blue, mischievous eyes filled Andy's heart with so much love that she was sure her chest would combust. She reached over and the older woman tenderly clasped her hand, entwining their fingers and giving Andy a look full of love and affection, and many sweet promises for the future.
The pounding hooves of their horses catapulted sprays of snow up behind them, as they rode, side-by-side, their capes flying behind them, into the afternoon sun.
And they lived happily Ever After.
The End
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