The Immortals [Closed for Lassardlost and Slut_in_white]

[slut_in_white]

Denali gaze locked with the woman's and she narrowed her eyes slightly when the woman's gaze got cold. Who was she to think she had a right to Gray? She was only his wife for appearances' sake.

But then she realized... she'd asked Gray both if he loved her, which he'd firmly answered, but also if she loved him. And he hadn't responded to that part of the question. Maybe she did. That could be... an issue.

Denali dipped her head in the expected courtesy she was supposed to give a royal. Then she groaned softly. "I apologize, my lady. I would stand and bow, but I have a severe injury that prevents that." Her tone was perfectly cordial, but cold. She would offer Gray's queen the very minimum courtesy she had to in order to prevent the woman from being able to suggest that she was offering any disrespect. But nothing else.

 

[LassardLost]

Queen Matilda nodded coolly towards Denali, and Gray put his hands out, palm upward, smiling towards the Queen.

"My dear, my eyes' delight, what brings you out of your quarters? I was on my way to attend to you." He smiled broadly. It was most unfortunate that Denali had to see this, Gray thought to himself. But she may very well have to get used to it.

Gray's words did not seem to remove the cold from Queen Matilda's eyes. She picked up her dress so it wouldn't drag and stepped came right up Denali, her back towards Gray. She eyed Denali's face, her chest, her side, and the bandaged hand - looked her up and down, her facial expression holding back disgust, with the impression that the only reason it didn't outright show, was because it would have been un-Queenly to wrinkle one's nose.

"What is this, William?"

"Ah, this my dear," Gray hurried over to his Queen's side, "is your new handmaid. I selected her from the women that were brought here from the conquest earlier. She's injured at this time - some of the men rough-handled her unfortunately - but within a few weeks she will be fit to serve at your beck and call. And of course, she will be cleaned and made presentable much sooner than that, to befit your Majesty's presence. I had just finished explaining her duties, and was about to call the Captain to escort her out before you came in."

"Hhmph," the Queen responded, taking hold of Denali's chin abruptly with her forefinger and thumb, turning her face to the right and the left as if inspecting some item on a shelf. Gray, who stood just a step behind and to the side of the Queen tried to motion to Denali to go along, by widening his eyes and making a subtle hand gesture below his waist.

Queen Matilda let go of Denali and turned to face Gray. "I suppose that there are no other reasons she will be my handmaid?" She accused Gray, daggers in the glint of her eyes.

Gray smiled genuinely, took the hand of his Queen in both of his, raised it and kissed the back of it before speaking, kind, soft words. "My dear Queen, there is only one woman in this world for me. And I married her several years ago."

Gray could feel his heart pounding away in his chest, tortured at how this must make Denali feel. He started to hate the fact that he had to put on this act. But if he didn't, there would be no way to secure Denali and his future together.

This seemed to melt away the Queen's jealousy, and she sighed and looked down at the ground, shaking her head slightly. "Forgive me, my Lord, for doubting you. You have ever been the gentleman, and it was out my place. It's just that, you had missed our... time together this evening and I was growing concerned. You know how important it is that I produce you an heir." She had lowered her voice for the last part of the statement.

Gray's face felt like it had suddenly flushed. Apparently having designated Denali as her handmaid had meant that the Queen did not feel inhibited from talking about these things in front of her. He felt like kicking himself.

"Ah, yes, my dear. Perhaps we should discuss this. Ah, shall we have your handmaid leave the tent?"

"Oh, no I don't see any reason for that. If she is to by servant than I am comfortable with her and I anticipate she will be loyal and confidential."

She'll be confidential for me when I'm sleeping with her.

"Ah, very well then. I was reflecting on our current predicament, and I have decided to train a potential heir from among the ranks. I have a few good men in mind."

The Queen seemed to take this as a personal affront, her face turned red and she grew visibly angry, her chest beginning to heave as she spoke.

"Are you saying my Lord that you have lost confidence in my ability to provide-"

Gray quickly cut her off, gently placing his hand on her arm.

"No! No at all m'Lady. Of course we shall continue our efforts, and I have no doubt as to your... abilities, but I think it just a matter of prudence that I begin the training process, so that I can groom someone I can trust. It is mere prudence, I assure you."

The Queen seemed to calm slightly, but was still bothered. She straightened her neck and swallowed, "Your Highness, I request your presence in my tent."

Gray almsot gawked at the woman. You've got to be kidding me. You arenotthat insecure are you?

"M'Lady?"

She took Gray by the hand, held her dress up with the other, and started pulling her husband out of the tent. "We shall go to my tent." She simply repeated, tugging him.

"M'Lady, this is most irregular! I need to make sure they guards set up your handmaid in appropriate-"

"Handmaid!" She called out without looking at Denali. "Follow us!" And with that she marched out of the tent, Gray in hand.

 

[slut_in_white]

Denali hadn't expected the Queen to like her. Nobility tended not to like anyone who was as obviously a peasant as she, and she'd been alone with her husband for... who knew how long.

What she hadn't expected was the way Gray had reacted to her presence. She watched, trying desperately to prevent her mouth from twisting into some combination of a sneer and grimace, as he showered the woman with compliments, promised her his love, and eased her ego.

Gray had the woman convinced that he loved her. And she, then, loved him, too. Cold anger settled unpleasantly into Denali's chest. And it grew only worse as Matilda grabbed Gray by the hand and pulled him out of the tent. What the hell was wrong with him? He was a King! Did he expect to keep the respect of his men when his wife could order him around like that? She knew his attitudes towards women were, by the nature of his immortality, somewhat more egalitarian, but this was getting ridiculous.

"Handmaid!"

For a moment, Denali seriously contemplated throttling the woman. And then maybe Gray, too, just for good measure. She was certain her anger would cool off by the time they found their way back to Cheshire, anyway. She pushed herself to her feet with a groan, and followed, as ordered, her teeth clenched against the bubble of furious words that were threatening to explode out of her. She'd never been one to take disrespect, even as a huntress - more than once, she'd taught a fair lesson to a noble who had slighted her before going on the run to another place to avoid the repercussions of her pride.

She walked into the Queen's tent a moment after Gray and Matilda did, and fixed Gray with a cold stare, waiting to see what they wanted from her.

 

[LassardLost]

Gray felt absolutely mortified at the situation between the Queen, himself and Denali. He was not accustomed to feeling this way. In fact, he couldn't remember having felt this way in... centuries. The feeling was almost overwhelming, and it made him feel like wanting to act rashly - to release himself from the Queen, grab Denali's hand and take off. Maybe they would just spend the rest of this life time in hiding. Worst thing that could happen would be that they would get separated again and could meet back at Cheshire. But even the thought of that bothered him deeply. Who knows how long it would take for them to get there and see each other again. It would be months at least.

As soon as the three of them were in the Queen's tent - Denali having taken her position just inside at the edge of the opening flap - she turned around, and keeping her grip on Gray's hands, placed them upon her bosom.

"I shall lie down for you now, my King, and I shall produce for you an heir."

This. Was ridiculous. Handmaid or not, Gray couldn't believe she was fine with Denali simply being in the room. As if she didn't exist!

"Your Majesty." Gray removed his hands from his wife's, his voice stern. "I will not tolerate the presence of another during our most private of hours. You will wait here as I make arrangements for safe lodging, and I will return as soon as I am done."

The Queen actually started to object, but Gray interrupted her, raising his voice as he did.

"Any further objection will be deemed insolence!" He sounded angry. The Queen became quiet, lowering her gaze to the floor.

"Yes, your Majesty. I shall await your return."

Gray eyed her for a moment. That actually really did make him angry. He let the silence permeate the air for a moment.

Then he nodded towards his Queen, about-faced. "You can come with me." He said to Denali, his eyes trying to hold back the pain and guilt he felt at Denali's position in all this. He stepped out of the tent, Denali in tow, and led her in silence back to his tent. At least he could talk to her in private for a few minutes before setting her up in her own place.

As soon as they entered his tent, Gray grimaced, even before turning around to face Denali. When he did, he was pretty sure that the last time he saw her looking this way, was when they had first met properly: and that was when she had tried to kill him.

 

[slut_in_white]

Denali's teeth were still grinding together as she followed Gray out of his Queen's tent. She'd be lying if she said he hadn't been satisfying to watch Gray finally tell Matilda off for her behaviour, but that had really only been a small point in a much, much larger issue.

Gray seemed almost afraid of her when he turned around to face her once she was returned to his tent. And well he should have been. Her eyes ablaze, she stalked towards him, ignoring the sharp pain in her torso that came with each step and each hissing breath. "You've convinced her you love her?!" she demanded, struggling to keep her voice down. "She's in love with you, you idiot! How, pray tell, do you think she's going to react if you tell her that you want to take her handmaid as your mistress?" She glared up at him, her chest heaving with painfully deep breaths. "Do not tell me that we're going to remain secret. I will not be your shame. I will not lie for you, because you chose to convince that woman of a love that doesn't exist!"

But maybe it did. Maybe he felt something for Matilda after all. Or maybe he didn't, but if not, how did she know he wasn't just using her the same way?

The flame of anger abruptly gave way to the ice cold of despair. "How could you possibly expect me to believe you care for me when now I've seen, first hand, just how good you are at pretending?"

 

[LassardLost]

Gray felt a deep hollow form in his chest and his throat at Denali's last words.

How could you possibly expect me to believe you care for me when now I've seen, first hand, just how good you are at pretending?

And that hollow was starting to get filled with some combination of urgency - an urgency to rectify what was happening - and anger.

"Wait. Wait a minute here. I had to live with this lady for god knows how long - it's not in my nature to just be a cold hard bastard. I can't just be like that for years on end. I know - I know how it looks - I'm not stupid, I could see how she looks at me, well before you came back. I knew she was falling for me, but I when I would try to distance myself she would become so worried that it would threaten the marriage, and I couldn't have that - for political reasons. You know that. And you know divorce is totally out of the question. I had no choice."

But Denali's final words, her tone, filled with despair, hurt Gray more than anything else. He felt absolutely horrible, like he wanted to curl up into a hole -with Denali- and hide away for ever.

Part of him wanted to be upset at Denali for not having faith in his feelings for her. Wanted to remind her who he was - that he was an immortal, and that she was the only one that could possibly understand him, and she was the only one he could possibly love. But at the same time, they had probably spent a grand total of three days together out of the last few centuries, so he couldn't exactly hold it against her. Furthermore, there was the issue of her being so new to her emotions, to relationships. No, this situation couldn't be handled in any other way other than with kid gloves.

He sighed, taking off his gloves and his helmet and dropping them to the floor.

"I... was thinking you'd have to be my secret mistress. I'm sorry, I had thought you had assumed that as well. But, I see now that that won't work."

Gray was going to just ignore that last bit she had said. He was hoping that what he would say next would prove his feelings for her. He, hesitating, touched Denali's arm.

"Let's fuck this whole scene and run away Denali. I think staying here, in this relationship, in this situation, is going to destroy us. I think we should lift up the back of that tent over there, and run. We'll be hunted, but we can get out of England altogether, and nobody'll know where we go. Once we're off this Island, I'll be a nobody - hell once I get into the town I'll be nobody, as long as we avoid soldiers. And it'll just be you and me."

Gray paused, looking hopefully into Denali's eyes. "Whaddaya say?" He said, smiling weakly.

 

[slut_in_white]

Wait. Wait a minute here. I had to live with this lady for god knows how long - it's not in my nature to just be a cold hard bastard. I can't just be like that for years on end. I know - I know how it looks - I'm not stupid, I could see how she looks at me, well before you came back. I knew she was falling for me, but I when I would try to distance myself she would become so worried that it would threaten the marriage, and I couldn't have that - for political reasons. You know that. And you know divorce is totally out of the question. I had no choice.

Denali scoffed, glaring at him. "It's not in your nature to be cold? I'm not certain how you could get more cold than to spend years pretending to love her when you don't! I never deceived any of my husbands. It was always clear that our unions were to be political only. I didn't even like any of them, but I never lied to them about how I felt!"

I... was thinking you'd have to be my secret mistress. I'm sorry, I had thought you had assumed that as well. But, I see now that that won't work.

She huffed and pulled away from him as he tried to touch her, not fully understanding the depth of the emotions she was feeling - jealousy, betrayal, heartbreak, these were all new to her. All she knew was that she was sad and angry and she didn't want to be touched.

Let's fuck this whole scene and run away Denali. I think staying here, in this relationship, in this situation, is going to destroy us. I think we should lift up the back of that tent over there, and run. We'll be hunted, but we can get out of England altogether, and nobody'll know where we go. Once we're off this Island, I'll be a nobody - hell once I get into the town I'll be nobody, as long as we avoid soldiers. And it'll just be you and me. Whaddaya say?

Her expression softened slightly. He wouldn't be willing to do this if he truly cared for his Queen, or if he didn't care for Denali. She considered it, but shook her head. "Your men need you. You were right, what you said before. You can't just leave. Your kingdom would dissolve into civil war, and the new king, once the blood had been shed, would likely be a tyrant of one type or another." She lifted her gaze to his, looking chagrined. "I should... apologize. The way she looked at you surprised me. I had expected that she knew the true nature of your relationship with her, because I'd always made that clear in my own. But I can see why it might have felt kinder to simply let her believe..." She stopped shaking her head. "I would be willing to stay here with you, but on two conditions. One, our relationship must be open. We don't have to advertise it, but I refused to be your shame. And two, you must be honest with your wife. Or send her away. I don't care, but I will not watch you shower her with affection while I'm made to play at being her servant." She narrowed her eyes at him. "She's not stupid. She can already see that I'm a threat to her relationship with you. I'm certain she would try to display her... dominance over me by making certain I am well aware that you are hers and not mine, and I can't promise I won't kill her if she does that too many times."

 

[LassardLost]

As Gray heard Denali explain what she felt he had to do, he realized that he felt terrible. He felt terrible that he would have to tell this woman that he was going to take a mistress, mostly because he hated to break people's heart. And that was the thing. Gray had figured she was attached to him, but he was so busy with running the kingdom that he just didn't figure it was anything more than some kind of attachment... he never actually thought that she would love him. Queen Matilda's response to him in front of Denali had made him aware for the first time that she really had deep feelings for him. Which meant he had to break the heart of a human being. Which he hated. But when he weighed what was at stake, it didn't matter. Even if her life was ruined as a result, it was just one life, and it would come to an end soon enough. Gray had an eternity to live, and he was going to do whatever he needed to to make sure he and Denali stayed close - physically and emotionally.

"You're right. That's what I'll do." Gray felt a sense of clarity now overcoming him. "I think, I got caught up in this... phase of history and its politics. But you're absolutely right. That's the only way this can work with out for us with the least amount of blood shed and chaos for a lot of people."

Gray took a deep breath and sighed, and then reached out to touch Denali's cheek, hoping this time she wouldn't turn him away - though he would probably understand if she did. He wanted to just take her and make love to her right at this moment, but her wounds would not allow it. "I'm sorry for causing you so much anguish Denali. I really am."

 

[slut_in_white]

Denali offered Gray a slight smile, this time leaning into his touch instead of pulling away. "It's alright. I should have expected... Well, I shouldn't have expected you to be alone, not for this whole time. I don't imagine you would have reacted that much better if you'd found me and discovered I was married, would you?"

She lowered herself carefully back down onto the couch where she'd been resting before Matilda had come in and caused the scene. "And, for what it's worth, I'm sorry you have to hurt her. I can see you don't want to cause her pain." She didn't mention that part of why she'd never led any of her husbands to believe that she loved them was because she'd always held out hope that Gray would come for her, and then she wouldn't be faced with having to admit that she'd lied to her husband. That, and about half of them hadn't cared what she felt for him, regardless, because they'd only been interested in having a pretty prize. And even those who had tried to be civil to her had all taken mistresses.

She smiled softly at him and shut her eyes.

 

[LassardLost]

Gray smiled. "I would have killed him in his sleep and then feigned ignorance in the morning." And with that, he leaned in and kissed Denali on the lips, slowly at first, but quickly his passion for her rose, and he he found himself pulling her into him with his fingers snaking through her hair. The kiss had started civilized, but it was rapidly approaching messy, and Gray had to stop before he did something to hurt her.

"Oh boy," he sighed, "that rib of yours can't heal up fast enough." He sat across from Denali on the cough and just looked into her eyes for a moment. How much they had seen - and how much they would both see together. They would live their loves together. Forever. Gray wanted to say he loved her already, but he knew it was premature. Right now, he had a more unpleasant job to do.

"Alright, let's go. You come with me. Hopefully once I tell her, she won't want to have anything to do with me anyway."

 

[slut_in_white]

Denali hadn't expected the kiss, so she made a squeak of surprise when she felt Gray's lips easing against hers. She smiled into the kiss and let her eyes flutter shut again after that initial moment of surprise. She could feel it heating, probably more than it should have, and she felt warmth pooling in her belly and realized, abruptly, that this was sexual desire. And that she wanted him. And that her injury would prevent her from having him.

She groaned softly when he pulled away, smirking. "I'll say it again, I don't know how humans live with being injured like this regularly. It's awful."

Alright, let's go. You come with me. Hopefully once I tell her, she won't want to have anything to do with me anyway.

Her eyebrows shot up and she shook her head. "She's your wife. And I'm injured. And she already hates me. She'll probably be less inclined to do something stupid if I'm not there to witness her humiliation." It didn't occur to her until after she said it that her particular choice of words wasn't very good. She frowned. "Gray, I'm sorry."

 

[LassardLost]

"No, it's ok." Gray said as he drifted into to thought.

"Actually," he started up again after a moment, "I think you should come. It'll have a greater impact on her to have you there when I tell her, and I want her to get used to it quickly. The harder this hits her the better. And if she so much as glowers at you I'll put her in her place so that the precedent is set - I should never see so much as a negative glance in your direction from her."

Gray was feeling really good now. He didn't realize how much he had gotten carried away in this life of theirs! He felt liberated, as if he had finally returned to his former, true state. With Denali by his side.

He got up and extended his hand to Denali. "So, what do you think? Will you come?"

 

[slut_in_white]

He made a good point, actually. She nodded, "Alright," and took his hand wincing as she got to her feet all over again. She smiled and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, then drew her hand out of his before they left the tent. She figured it would be better if they told Gray's wife before displaying any sort of affection in public.

When they arrived at Matilda's tent, she looked up and smiled brightly when Gray walked in, only to have her expression sour immediately once Denali walked in a moment later.

"What is the meaning of this?" she asked, her tone sharp.

 

[LassardLost]

Gray had kept his helmet off, tucked under his arm by his left side.

"M'Lady," Gray's tone was firm, brooking no weakness. "I have decided that your handmaid will instead be my mistress. She will live close to our quarters, and I will visit her when I deem fit. You, and all members of the palace will treat her kindly, and if so much as see a glance of disapproval from you in her direction, you will find my response most displeasing."

Queen Matilda, who was not an unattractive woman herself, kept herself stoic. She didn't look at Denali, but kept her eyes fixed upon Gray. Her eyes didn't seem to have the same coldness that she had had just a moment ago or even before, but they certainly didn't have the warmth of a wife.

"Very well, your Majesty." She said, her tone frank. "Now, if you will, please have her escorted to her quarters so that we have our private hour." She turned to go towards the bed that lay in the far corner of the tent, then stopped and turn back around to Gray. "Unless of course his Majesty wants her here."

Gray could not believe his ears. She was a full-fledged Queen after all. Apparently, he had spoiled her rotten. She probably had expected him to have an entire harem of women by now, but when he never did, she had allowed herself to become attached.

Better late than never I guess.

"No. I will have her escorted to her quarters, and will return in a minute." And with that, he took Denali by the hand and led her out of the tent.

On the way to Captain Roberts Gray apologized, "I'm so sorry Denali. That you have to endure this. I... I'm just utterly shocked. But I guess maybe she had been expecting it all along." Gray kicked himself on the inside. "I feel like a fool for having been so egalitarian with her."

 

[slut_in_white]

Denali stopped, well aware that she was in full view of the various soldiers on guard or milling about in the camp, pulling Gray to a stop with her. She reached up, her fingers grazing his cheek and then kissed him softly. "You shouldn't worry so much. I did say I'd be happy to be your mistress. I know she's still your wife, and there are certain duties you have to attend to. I certainly can't be upset about this after spending a thousand years flitting from man to man in the attempt to find you. If this is what must be done, this is what must be done." She smiled. "As long as you enjoy it more with me," she added, winking at him with a playful sort of grin.

Then her expression turned serious. "I know how this works. The wife is the woman you have to be with to secure political power. But the mistress is the one you love." She snickered. "I understand full well. Every one of my husbands had a mistress he liked better than me. And we won't have to stay like this forever. Just until you have an heir." She kissed him again, and then she was taken to her new quarters - the soldiers went about erecting a tent for her next to Gray's. It was smaller than the Queen's tent, but positioned so close to Gray's that they could easily slip from one to the other, with no one the wiser. And once it was set up, they began to bring in the basics of the furniture she would need, including a bed and a few chairs, and immediately, someone began drawing her up a bath while another servant estimated her size so clothing could be found for her.

By the time Gray's hour with Matilda was up, Denali was clean and her skin softened with sweet smelling oils, her hair brushed, her wounds checked by the army's doctor, and she was dressed in a plain but flattering linen dress, lying in bed with a book and a plate of cheese and crackers. She'd forgotten the comforts of being a wealthy woman in recent years. It had always felt sour before, because she'd felt trapped, waiting for Gray to find her instead of looking for him, but now, she found she could appreciate the first few moments she'd had to relax in a thousand years.

 

[LassardLost]

To the Queen's dismay, it took quite a long time for Gray to become ready for her. She certainly noticed, but there wasn't much more that she could do, other than everything else she was doing in the moment to get him hard for her. Once he was ready, he did the deed, but imagined making love to Denali the entire time. The action was mechanical, and the Queen surely felt it, for as opposed to her usual post-sex giggling, she remained quiet in bed. Distant. Gray felt horribly for her, but there was nothing to it. After this relationship was done, he wouldn't have to go to any other woman besides Denali ever again.

His desire now to produce an heir increased. And all that meant was more tiring "private hours" that he had to spend away from Denali. The mere thought of it tired him out, and by the time he walked back into his tent, he felt miserable. His hair was a mess, he had removed all his armor and was just wearing the loose pants and shirt he would wear beneath, which reeked of sweat.

Before checking in on Denali - he could see that a new, smaller tent had been erected by his own - he took a bath and wore fresh clothes. He combed his hair. Though felt better after doing so, his heart still sat somewhere in his feet. He just couldn't bare the idea any more of having to go back to the Queen.

Anyway. Let's just put that aside for now. Right now it's time to see my real Queen.

He didn't feel like seeing anyone at this moment. All he wanted to do was be with Denali. So instead of going out the front of the tent, he picked up the fold from the side closest to Denali's tent, and snuck in to hers that way. When he came up inside her tent, he found himself standing right next to her bed.

Denali looked even more stunning than she had before. She had bathed and wore a beautiful dress, her hair shining, her eyes bright, her scent arousing. The sight of her lying comfortably on her bed, with a book in her lap made her look truly Queenly to Gray. Then she smiled, and Gray melted.

He sat down quietly on the bed next to her, picked up her hand and gave it the most tender, slow and loving kiss he had ever given anyone. And then held the back of her hand against his cheek, looking down at the bed.

Centuries of wandering the world on his own seemed to flash before his eyes, centuries of meaningless relationships, meaningless politics and power plays and sex and games and all the things that humans do, flashed before his eyes, vacuous and gray. That was, after all, why he had named himself that.

Before he could do anything about it, a hot tear streaked down his cheek, and Gray silently kissed Denali's hand once more, shifted his legs onto the bed, and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her into him. He rested his head upon hers, and closed his eyes.

 

[slut_in_white]

When Gray slipped into her room, Denali looked up and was struck, suddenly, by a pang of hot jealousy she'd been trying very hard to suppress for the past hour. Only, then his gaze found hers and she saw just how much his time with his Queen had drained him, and the jealousy was followed immediately by a pang of harsh guilt.

He kissed her hand and she smiled, and then, she saw a tear rolling down his cheek and she lifted her other hand to wipe it away with her thumb. "Gray..." she murmured, sounding pained. "If this hurts you so, we don't have to stay. I thought you wanted to. I thought you were offering to leave for my sake. But if you can't be here anymore, if you don't want this, I'll leave with you," she promised him, holding his face tenderly between her hands.

 

[LassardLost]

Gray smiled weakly at Denali. He hadn't felt this kind of vulnerability before. But he felt like he could be vulnerable with Denali.

"I don't know." Gray said, taking Denali's hands off his cheeks and gently placing them on her lap. "Do you know that my first memory of life, is standing in the middle of a field. It was a field with long grass that came up to the waist. It was a beautiful place. There were mountains in the distance. Snow capped. There was a forest to one side, a still lake on the other. But, it is a horrifying memory. Because I had no idea who I was, where I had come from, or why I was there. I felt like a dried up leaf, being tossed about aimlessly in the wind. And once I realized I was immortal, and I got over the initial excitement - I got all the... things I wanted to do out of the way. I started to realize that there was nothing in this world for me. And everything started to become... gray."

"That's what I decided to name myself. Before that, I would just choose a name from the culture or the people I was in at the time. I mean, I still do that, but I would actually take it on as my real name. After I became Gray, I had my own identity, and it emphasized to me that I'd be alone forever, no matter what my "outside" name was, no matter what time or place I was in."

Gray took hold of Denali's hand again, looking at it, caressing the back of it with his thumb. "But now that I have you, I don't want to be Gray any more. My life has new meaning. So I want you to think of a new name for me. You don't have to think of it now. Just, whenever. The world isn't gray for me any more."

 

[slut_in_white]

Denali smiled, but there was something overwhelmingly sad in her expression and, for a moment, tears gathered in her eyes while she squeezed his fingers. "I... I will. I don't know what to call you, but I will, I promise."

She had never really known what she had been missing. This connection... he was right, this was something worth living for. She'd never not had a purpose - before, it was her Master, then it was finding Gray, and now... it was living with him. But the thought of being aimless like that was terrifying. And to think, he'd existed like that forever...

On impulse, she leaned toward him and kissed him. "I'm so sorry. I can't even imagine what it felt like."

There was a long pause, and she found herself thinking about her own first memories. "I don't... I don't remember where I came from, exactly. Before I tried to kill you, before you freed me from the bonds of my old Master, everything is kind of a blur. It all runs together because none of it mattered. And before that... I have fleeting memories. The sun. A stone house. A woman, dressed in clothes like I've never seen since. She called me Denali. I don't know who she is. Not my mother, her skin was this beautiful ebony, which I quite obviously don't share," she quipped, smiling faintly as she looked down at her own alabaster skin. I think... I think I was a child, but I'm not certain. Sometimes, I wonder if it was even real. Maybe it was a dream." She shook her head.

"You don't remember anything from before that day in the field? I'd always simply... accepted that my Master had made me what I am. I didn't believe it, I knew it, but no one had taught me or told me. It was simply true, and I knew it instinctively. But that doesn't have to be true. My master lied to me about many things. What's to say he didn't also lie about how I became immortal?"

 

[LassardLost]

Gray listened carefully, and with much fascination, to Denali tell of her beginnings. He furrowed his brow as he heard her mention the stone house and the woman with the ebony skin calling her Denali. If it were true, it meant that someone named her that. And if someone named her, that could mean that someone knew her, loved her, and named her out of that love. But if it were a dream...

She spoke of her master, knowing that he had made her. Gray simply had no recollection of any such thing.

"I just... don't remember anything. Just that I was. In that field. And that's it. I don't even remember being smaller, and looking up at bigger people. I just assumed, later, that part of being immortal came with the mystery of just always having been."

Gray shook his head. "But your... memory of the woman in the stone house. How can two immortals have such a different experience? Did I never have a master? Was I never supposed to? Or did I but I just don't remember? And if I don't remember, why don't I? You remember that memory of the stone house and the woman calling you - maybe naming you - Denali. And you have a sense of that life under your master. But I don't have anything like either of those two things."

Gray sighed and rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands, shaking his head as he came out of it. "Well, I don't think we're ever going to figure it out on our own. And I'm not sure I know how to figure it out, well, not on our own either. I kind of feel like these answers are either going to make themselves known to us at some point or they won't."

"But in the meanwhile," Gray said leaning in and resting his nose on Denali's, smiling. "I have you." He kissed her, and they lay down in each other's arms.

 

[slut_in_white]

It was the first night in a very, very long time that Denali had slept so well. She was happy to lie comfortably against Gray, pushing aside the food and her book in favour of simply enjoying his presence, only to find, much to her surprise, when she opened her eyes what felt like a moment later, it was bright outside. Birds were singing, Denali was wrapped in a comfortable blanket, and she was lying with her head pillowed on Gray's chest, shifting slightly with the deep, regular breaths of sleep. She smiled and pulled herself close to him, letting herself drift back and forth into and out of sleep again for some unknown amount of time.

Until she felt Gray jerk slightly under her head, and the sound of a voice coming from the next tent. "Your... Your Majesty? Your Majesty! Where are you?!"

 

[LassardLost]

Gray awoke to the sound of a frantic Captain Roberts in the next tent, yelling for the King.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath. Denali started to get up but Gray motioned for her to come back to him, and he held her next to him in bed with his arm wrapped around her waist.

Gray called out, trying to keep his voice quiet at the same time, "Captain! Captain, come into the neighboring tent."

"Your- your Majesty?"

"Are you deaf, Captain Roberts? I'm in the neighboring tent. Leave my tent, and come in here."

They heard his steps walk to the far end of Gray's tent, the flap go up and down, the steps across to the front of Denali's, and the flap went up, a confused Captain Roberts stepping through the threshold. He then took turns abashedly looking off to the side and looking at this King, clearly not sure what to do, where to direct his vision."

"At ease, Captain. This is my mistress. The Queen knows of it. And you had better inform the men. They are to protect her as if she is the Queen herself. If any harm comes to her I shall those who failed to protect her severely punished."

The Captain seemed to feel at ease with the directness of his King's voice, and the command. He straightened himself and nodded. "Yes, Sire. I shall inform them immediately."

"Very good. And Captain?"

"Yes, My Lord."

"To be clear, from now on, if you do not find me in my quarters in the morning, you may inquire from outside my mistress's tent as to my whereabouts, but do not enter it without her or my permission."

"Yes, Sire."

"You are dismissed."

"Very good Sire." And with a courteous nod to Denali, the Captain left.

Gray sighed, lying back in bed and getting comfortable again.

"They're good men." He said after a while. "I should probably go lead them."

And with that, Gray - William the Conqueror - got out of bed.

 

[slut_in_white]

Denali watched in silence as Gray explained what was happening to the Captain, who seemed entirely uncertain about where to look. She appreciated the order that he gave about him not being able to come in without permission.

She was particularly pleased when he didn't get out of bed right away after the Captain left, and she was able to simply enjoy his company for a little while longer. But eventually he sat up, making a quip about having to lead his men, and strode back into his own tent to get ready for the day.

Denali spent the next week ordered to stay in bed as much as possible, by Gray's personal doctor. She tried, but it was incredibly boring, even if there were books to keep her entertained. And so, despite the doctor's protests, she took to walking through the camp during the afternoons.

It hadn't taken long for word of William the Conqueror's new mistress to make the rounds within the camp. The men generally offered her the same sort of deference they would to any other minor noble lady. One, once - only once - decided to comment on her virtue based on the fact that she was sleeping with the king but wasn't his wife.

Denali supposed what shocked the men most about her response was that, first, she was armed, second, she was entirely capable with her chosen weapon, and third, she moved like fast-flowing water when she wanted to, because she'd managed to cross the distance between herself and her heckler in half the time that it took the his captain to do so, and she'd been twice as far away. Before anyone quite realized what was happening, Denali had swept the young man's feet out from under him and thrown her blade into the ground less than an inch from his head, drawing a terrified squeak from him that made the surrounding men laugh.

She'd smiled sweetly, asked him to repeat himself and the soldier, blushing and blabbering, made up some story about how he'd meant that she was very beautiful and very worthy of such a great man's affections, and other such aimless compliments in the attempt to placate her.

After that, half of the men seemed infatuated with her while the other half stayed as far away from her as humanly possible. And the doctor had nearly had a heart-attack when he found out that she'd been exerting herself.

The next little while was quite busy for the army, as they transformed from an invading force to an occupying one. The nobility - Gray, Matilda, Denali, and a few other important members of various Norman families who had joined Gray on his invasion, moved into the Tower of London. Denali almost never saw Matilda, and while she was relieved, she also felt somewhat badly for the woman. What had happened to her wasn't her fault, either, and she hadn't exactly deserved to have her heart broken. But it was difficult to remain upset about much of anything when she was finally living, day-to-day, with Gray.

They spent as much time together as they possibly could, though Denali couldn't be particularly helpful in the process of moving into the castle, thanks to her injuries. She spent an enormous amount of time in bed, reading, since it was the only thing she could do without risking further injury.

Winter was beginning to gather around the city, and one such blustery evening found Denali sitting by the fire in her room - adjacent, once again, to Gray's quarters - wrapped in blankets. Her injury had made it difficult for her to breath and eat for well over a month, now, and she was weak as a result. The chill normally wouldn't have bothered her, but she was quite thin and had only recently regained her appetite, so she was constantly swathed in thick wool blankets, cocooned in them, with a fire roaring in her room at all hours.

 

[LassardLost]

At the end of each day, long and hard as it often was, Gray would retire to his quarters only momentarily, before heading next door to Denali's. Most of his time during the day was spent over seeing operations throughout London. He was involved, and didn't like to be an armchair King. He wanted to be seen by the people, see what the situation on the ground was, because decisions were always made much better that way. But doing so was tiring.

Usually by the time he got to Denali's room, he was exhausted, and he would often fall asleep with her in her bed. And this was always for the better anyway, because if he had had energy, it would have just tortured the both of them anyway, since that energy would undoubtedly want to have been converted into making love. But he, and Denali, knew that would be off the table until she had healed. Besides, Gray found it just wonderful to "come home" to Denali.

When she had told him of her little event with the soldier, he couldn't help but laugh. These people really had no idea who or what they were dealing with. Mostly, he felt a warmth in the comfort of knowing that Denali was not some helpless little thing, but rather a force to be reckoned with. He wouldn't have to worry about her too much.

Still, she had become weak over the weeks, because of the pain with just moving, breathing. And since the winter had taken hold of the city he would always find her in the same position when he came in at night - wrapped up in an untold number of blankets, in front of the fire.

Gray came into Denali's room and closed the door quietly behind him. He sat down next to her, kissing her on her lips as his greeting. "How are you feeling today?" He asked, his voice quiet, his eyes searching her face. He tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear.

 

[slut_in_white]

Denali smiled when Gray arrived and, the moment he pulled away after his short kiss hello, her hand appeared out from the folds of the blankets, caught a handful of his shirt, and pulled him back in for a longer, warmer kiss.

"Better today," she answered, leaning into him. She'd been going insane over the past few weeks, especially since the weather had been keeping her inside more regularly. Left alone for long periods of time, she found herself fantasizing about being healthy - about helping Gray, about finding some sort of work to do during the day, and always, always about finally being able to make love to him. There had been a near-constant ache between her legs for at least a week now, and she was growing more and more restless.

She pushed herself to her feet, some of the blankets falling away, leaving her draped only in one blanket with naught but a thin slip on underneath. She held her hands out to him, smiling. "Come to bed with me?"