Black would be the color

[a_libertine]

This is closed for hells_fury

Berc stood overlooking his army and smiled a smile that in no way touched his eyes. The army began it's march north and east from the desert to a strip of land between the Copper Garden's a small fertile kingdom, and the duchy of Hawk Glen. Neither of which were terribly important to Berc, or his plans, save that his target was north of the two small independent states.

He had sent missives to both countries, and demanded tribute and alliance. Which ever met his conditions would avoid his advance, and would prove the first step of his plan to conquer the lands north of his own desert domain. Food, money, and a hostage close to the ruler were required.

A report had been sent that Copper Garden had sent an ambassador to discuss some of the finer 'details' but the were prepared to agree. The shadow, Drogort, relaying the information to Berc, while the two slaves he kept for such a purpose, bathed him. His body, washed, licked dry, and oiled, glistened in the morning as he dressed languidly. His simple azure robe was placed over his head and smoothed over his body by the twin red headed slaves and golden sandles placed under his feet.

From the shadows of his pavilion he lounged waiting until the train of wagons and people arrived, stopping two hundred feet away from him. With a word of power that rippled through the air, an armor of bone rose from the ground, and shaped around Berc's strong frame. Placing his customary scowl on his face, Berc dismissed the slaves while he waited for the ambassador.

 

[hells_fury]

Chrystine stood in the dressing room as her maidens prepared her for her day. Holding onto one of the bed posts as one of the women pulled the strings on her bodice pulling as tight as they would go. Then she slid the white and gold dress around her. Looking at herself in the mirror she simply sighed as she stood there. Sliding her feet into the shoes placed before her she was escorted out of her room.

Chrystine was the daughter of the King, she was the next aire, her father having no living sons left due to the wars. Now here she was standing as their bartering chip for the war. She stood in the main hall as all of the preperations were made. She watched her dear friend Micko the Ambassador head out to deal with the politics of everything.

Standing there she had a somber expression on her face as she waited. She thought this whole idea was popserterous being made to marry a man she had never met. A man known widely as an abuser to women, a scoundral, a their, a muderer, he was no knight, no he was more like a wretch. At least that was what she had heard, of course the thing she didn't want to know or hear about was apparently how gorgeous he was, so none of the women seemed to ever mind.

 

[a_libertine]

Berc watched as the ambassador waddled forward. The portly man's face flushed red as perspiration, no, sweat, poured from his brow. The man's eyes shifted left and right, any where possible that was not at Berc. The man bowed at Berc and began rambling an introduction.

Cutting him off, Berc snapped, "Get to the point, what is your King's offer?"

Berc's eyes snapped to the wagon train as he saw a female disembark an elegant carriage. Her nearly raven black hair coiled loosely down her neck, kissing the tops of her shoulders, starkly contrasted by the white and gold dress that was molded to her torso so tightly that her breasts were thrust up, making them appear larger than they were. She was tall and elegant carrying herself with an easy grace that would have captivated a man so inclined for such features.

As she turned and looked at Berc and the ambassador, Berc heard the portly man mention something about marriage, and eventual inheritance to the throne. Berc's eyes turned toward the fat stinking soon to be carcass, and whispered low and dangerously, "Repeat that."

"U-uh, my Lord is pledging his sole heiress as your bride, and upon his death that would make you King Consort, and her Queen."

Berc's mind began to race recalculating the war of conquest. The advantages nearly equaled the disadvantages, which made the prospect nearly enticing. "What other concessions has your King offered?"

"What ever is in my King's power, and my lord requires, will be met."

Berc's gray eyes flicked back to the ambassador and then back to the Princess as she drew near. His eyes locked with hers as she approached. "My I present the Princess Chrystine, heiress to the Diamond Throne, Princess of the Topaz Seal."

Berc half bowed, his bone armor clicking and creaking ominously as he did. His baritone voice rolled smoothly as he greeted her, "Princess Chrystine, I am proud to welcome you to my court."

 

[hells_fury]

Chrystine nodded her head as he bowed to her. Her corset restricting much movement but she had managed a slight dip. Looking back up to him she remained as graceful as she had been taught and instructed to do.

"As I am pleased to join sir."

She said to him. Her voice soft like silk and succlent. She stood there looking upon the men her breaths short and shallow due to the restrictions around her rib cage. Looking to the ambassador she nodded her head and smiled.

"You are dismissed please leave us."

She said to him softly, watching him bow and return to the carriage she looked back at the man wearing armor before her. It was tradition she knew to present oneself in the finest piece they owned.

"So will you be accepting this offer sir?"

She said as kindly as she could manage. Her father warned her about her attitude and being to blunt with people but there were just somethings she could not help. She figured ending it in Sir would make it a little better. Well she hoped, at least that was what she would say to be honest she did not really care.

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b445/hellsfury0788/CM/couples/gerard_butler_02.jpg
Berc

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Chrystine

 

[a_libertine]

Berc nearly laughed as Chrystine presumptuously dismissed the ambassador. He stood looking her up and down as she asked "So will you be accepting this offer sir?"

His eyes sized her up, she was nearly as tall as he, her frame willowy and had curves in the correct places. Her breasts appeared to be the size of an orange, her neck long and silky.

"That depends on you," he replied. "You have the physical attributes, shall we see about the proper decorum?"

 

[hells_fury]

Chrystine eyed the man as he asked about her decorum. Arching a brow she looked up to him directly meeting his eyes.

"How exactly do you propose judging my decorum?"

She said to him as she looked at him a bit curiously and a bit upset as she stood there before this man. The women had not lied he was a gorgeous specimen, but in her mind that did not give him a right do beat and abuse women against their will. Standing there she waited patiently. Her eyes still scaling him sizing him up as she waited for his response to her question.

 

[a_libertine]

Berc's eyes flashed dangerously as he replied, "We are doing so now, and you are not doing well."

Turning to one of his generals, Berc ordered, "Split the army in thirds. Send the soldiers to Copper Garden to escort the ambassador. The rest go to Hawk Glen."

Turning toward Chrystine again, Berc said, "Let's set some parameters, first, you shall address me appropriately. That means, Sir, my lord, my liege, and so on. Understood?"

 

[hells_fury]

Chrystine watched him containing her anger. She could not believe this. Placing a pleasant smile on her face she looks up to him and bows her head gracefully.

"Of course my Liege."

She says her tone pleasant as she speaks the time. The sound like a song flowing smoothly from her lips. Her eyes meet his once more this time with a pleasantness behind them her smile brightening her face as she bows her head once more.

"Is there anything else that we need to address my Liege?"

She asks him politely, her tone sounding as if she truly did care as to what he had to say. Chrystine stopped thinking at this point she let the feminine side the subservient side take control now.

 

[a_libertine]

Berc nearly laughed, but did not. His eyes held a bemused look to them as he gazed at her. "Very well," he purred. "You are ever so much over dressed. I mean a corset? There may be days that I will require you to wear one, but generally, no."Berc stopped short and a look of revelation crossed his face. "In fact, today would be a good day to wear the corset. Remove the dress, Chrystine."

 

[hells_fury]

Chrystine looked at him her eyes wide with shock. She stood there, this was one of those things that someone in her training forgot to mention. All the women in her region were taught how to take care of a man, how to bathe him, how to please him, even how to shower and submit to him. This however was something they had never gone over though. Looking at him she swallowed.

"You want me to take off my dress here...my leige?"

She asked him as she looked around them. Sure they were surrounded by guards but in truth she was still a virgin and as much as she was taught as much training that she had this was something on a whole different level. Something she was surely not prepared for.

 

[a_libertine]

A frown darkened Berc's face as he nodded. "I never give a command I do not intend to be obeyed. Now."

 

[hells_fury]

Chrystine didnt speek. Pulling off her cloak she set it down inside of her carriage. Taking her time she finally got the back of her dress untied. Working out the laces so took a few deep breaths. It was not easy undressing herself when she had to many restrictions on her movement. Finally the dress was loose and she allowed it to fall down around her body. Standing there in her corset and petticoats now she stepped out of the dress and picked it up placing it inside of her carriage. She saw the guards glances even saw a few be willing to try something but she figured they wouldn't and if they did she figured they'd have to have a death wish.

Chrystine was completely pure, never even being touched by a man except her fathers hugs. All other men were forbidden to ever touch her. Standing there she looked back to the man now in front of here.

"As you wished my leige"

She said to him looking up to him as she spoke softly. Her skin was soft and had a silk like presence to it as she stood there. There were tribal markings along her back above the corset that had been drawn on with a specially made ink, they traced her arms and chest. The ink would only come off with anothers touch and each day the marks were re-drawn after having been inspected to be sure she had not been touched.

 

[a_libertine]

Berc watched in some amusement as Chrystine worked to comply with his order; as the dress was placed in the carriage he determined it had certainly been worth the wait. The corset was black and gold, the cups of her breast were a gold filigree an intricate designed that mirrored the virgin ink along her back and arms.

"As you wished my leige" her voice was soft,yielding, much like he expected her lips and breasts would be.

Hunger flared in his eyes as he whispered, "Close."

Uttering an arcane phrase, ghostly hands materialized next to Chrystine, and pulled the petticoat away from her hips and down her long, lean legs. As the voluminous material pooled at her feet, Berc said, "Perfect." Whether he meant her state of appearance, or her appearance, he did not elaborate.

"Until instructed otherwise, you may only wear three garments of clothing at a time, the attire to be approved by me before donning it. Do you understand?"

 

[hells_fury]

Chrystine stood there listening to him. She could not believe that he took her petticoats from her. Standing there she nodded in acceptance.

"Yes my leige."

She said to him accepting what he told her would now be her life. She stood there erasing her emotions from herself and tossing out the idea of love in her life. She was a slave and she would be sure to keep her father and her people safe. Standing there she waited silently for whatever he wished of her next.

 

[a_libertine]

Berc walked around her, his eyes traveling over her body slowly. Stopping behind her, Berc began chanting quietly. The words as raw in power as they were obscene sounding, rolled off his lips with the easy cadence of one well versed in magical power and its application.

The tribal markings began to change ever so slowly. The primitive knots became roses, the scrolling whirls the thorny vine of a rose bush. A rose slowly appeared at each wrist, each elbow, each shoulder and one at the base of her neck. The vining wrapping itself around her arms, shoulders and the upper portion of her back.

As the spell completed, Berc sighed heavily, under the duress of the spell. "There. Your ink has become a magical tattoo. If you touch someone, or if someone touches you with out my express permission, other than myself, they will die instantly, and the rose closest to the offending body part will turn black from red."

He stepped around her, catching her eyes with his. "Once all seven roses turn black, you too will die."

 

[hells_fury]

Chrystine looked at him. Her demeanor changing ever so slightly as she stood there.

"Well can I still touch my father and hug him ...... my leige."

She said to him, this time the attitude in her tone was obvious, she did not care about anyone else, but to now allow her to hug her father, to be close to the only person she truly loved was cruel. If that was to be the case then she decided that dying would not be so bad, but she could not ever harm her father and that broke her heart. She stood there tears welling in her eyes as she realized how cursed her life was quickly becoming

 

[a_libertine]

BErc caressed her face, his finger's barely brushing along her skin, a touch so light that a butterflies wings would have been heavier. "That depends on how well you learn your role with me, and accept that which is your fate."

Turning from Chrystine, Berc looked toward the baggage caravan that had accompanied her, and waved them off. "You will not be needed, I shall provide my betrothed all that she needs, and so very much more. Begone, one and all."


Turning back to Chrystine, he offered her his arm. "Accompany me for the day, let us learn of each other."

 

[hells_fury]

Chrystine took his arm and nodded. She hated this already and she was not so certain that this was going to end well for her. She would do everything she could to protect her father and her people. Placing a smile of her face she looked over to him.

"Yes do let us. My Leige."

She said to him, following every sentence spoken with my leige was going to get on her nerves but that was what he had asked for so she would give it to him. She really had no other choice.

 

[a_libertine]

Berc paused a moment staring at Chrystine, pondering whether to say something or not, and decided against it. Shrugging mentally he lead her into his massive pavilion tent. The tent was dark and cool, far cooler than the ambient temperature outside would indicate.

The dark maroons, blacks, and golds dominated the decorations, pillows and tent siding. In the middle of the tent, near the top of the main pole floated scintillating lights, dimly cast light up a small radius around the pole.

Pointing to a mass of pillows near a low table, Berc said, "Rest, you have had a trying day, and I have much to do when we arrive at the stop location for tonight."

 

[hells_fury]

Chrystine listened as he spoke. Following what he had directed her to do she took a seat. The tent was beautiful, she could not help but to notice that. As she sat the the corset cut into her hips. It was not made to sit on pillows but in a chair. A small twinge crossed her face until she positioned herself just right that she could with stand the feeling. Replacing the smile to her face she looked up to him.

"So my leige what is that you would like to know about me?"

She said to him. Her voice a bit more relaxed yet still breathless. Of course any womans whose ribs were being pressed against by bone would be breathless a little.

 

[a_libertine]

Berc glanced at Chrystine, and said, "Soon we will have time to talk. For now, I must move us to the camp site for this night."

Standing in the middle of his pavilion, Berc began chanting in a low voice, drawling the words slowly, their sinister sounds rolling easily over his lips. Coruscating blue and black waves of magic began to coalesce around his body, and the seeped out, away from him filling the pavilion as the spell culminated.

A forceful gush of air, like the leading edge of a storm front, erupted from Berc, billowing out the sides of the large tent, and crashed back into him, compressing his clothes against his hard body. As the spell ended, Berc staggered a step and then eased onto a cushion. "There, we have arrived."

 

[hells_fury]

She could not take her eyes off of him. Seeing him fall after wards she knew what that met. She had been a healer and seer all her life and most only knew her as the seer but her mother had blessed her with two gifts, sight and healing hands. Walking over to him she kneeled next to him.

"Are you alright my leige?"

For the first time the entire night her tone was sincere as she looked over him. She would never use her gifts on any who did not wish it. So she waited.

 

[a_libertine]

Berc nodded. "Yes, sweet one, I am fine."

Shakily, Berc stood and offered Chrystine his hand, "Come and see," he said in a tired voice. As her hand landed in his, Berc led her out of the tent.

The tent was now sitting atop a spur overlooking a pass leading through the mountains which led to Hawk Glen. The first of the army was arriving in the pass, beginning to make camp for the night.

"You see, sweet one, moving this much stuff, the tent, it's contents, you and I, etc, is draining. I shall be fine shortly."

 

[hells_fury]

Chrystine was in shock at first when she realized what he had really done. Shaking her head she looked up to him.

"My Leige let me help you, please I can help you feel better and rested so you can do what you must, but please do not make me sit here and watch you be exhausted."

She said to him, her concern as real as anything else was around them. It was very rare she offered to help people she didn't know. She was typically ordered to. She was one of the most powerful women and people her father had. To many of her people did not practice their gift. Her mother though when she had been alive had made sure that Chrystine had it was her duty with her gift to practice and to use it for good.

 

[a_libertine]

Berc allowed Chrystine to lead him to the cushions and settle him back into a plush pile. He could smell her perfume waftinng up to his nostrils and found the scent pleasing. It smelled something like spring and innocence, and roused his heart rate slightly.

"So, what is your idea on making me feel better?" He asked. Berc had his own ideas on what would make him feel better, but suppressed the image from his mind.