"Daria, the Warrior Queen" (closed to current writers)

[SandS13]

"Gwent?" Meara paled. Gwent. Marrying Daria. He would be living here. In the castle, with them. Close to her.

No, she loved Daria. Her heart belonged there.

So why did the thought of him being near cause her heart to speed up?

Wide blue eyes looked at Daria as she laid out the plan. She opened her mouth to explain that they could not claim Gwent was infertile but Daria seemed to have realized it on her own.

Meara nodded. "Perfect. As long as Gwent is willing. We must realize he may already be seeking a wife, a life as sheriff." Her voice hitched a little.

"You are right, it is a very good plan. It would ensure none can claim you did not try and did not seek to continue the line and as your husband, his bloodline in our child would make it legitimate as your heir."

She squeezed Daria tightly. "We will do what needs to be done."

 

[PennySaver]

"As long as Gwent is willing," Meara mused. "We must realize he may already be seeking a wife, a life as sheriff."

"He will be willing," Daria said without hesitation. "He is a man with lofty ambitions, and being Consort to the Queen is to Lord Sheriff is as the mountains are to the sea."

When Meara spoke of how Gwent's bloodline would carry on through the child inside her, Daria wondered whether that would truly be enough for her Uncle and, possibly even more importantly, to those Nobles and Royals who were still at odds or even at war with her.

"We will do what needs to be done."

Daria smiled with delight, then moved in close again to kiss Meara. "I'll begin work on it right away."

################​

Yarlham, 3 days later:

Gwent rolled out of bed, clearing his throat and moaning, trying to clear his head after another night of hard sex. He looked back to Palla, laying naked face down on the far side of his big bed. Pulling the bedding down to expose her ass, he could see the already-forming, fingertip sized bruises on her hips where he'd grasped her tightly while fucking her hard and long the night before.

He listened to Palla's breathing for a moment and knew she was awake but pretending not to be. She had learned since returning to Gwent that if she awoke with him in the morning, he would more often than not make her go down on him. He didn't force her to suck his cock if she was exhausted, though; without the energy, the result was that she often couldn't get him off. That was what the young redheaded Chamber Maid who'd joined his staff during Palla's absence was for.

Approaching footsteps in the passage beyond his door attracted Gwent's attention. Thinking that it would be a messenger or other member of his staff, he crossed to and opened the door and opened it. Standing there instead of one of his people was the Collector, Lady Lauren of Marconi. His eyes opened wide in surprise, not at a woman being at his door while he was naked but at it being this woman … and without the armed escort who should have been with her to ensure his Lord Sheriff's health.

Lauren looked down Gwent's body and smiled a bit at the rather impressive, semi-hardened member hanging out before him from within a thick bush of curly kinks. "It's good to see that the chill of the air does not diminish you, Lord Sheriff."

She looked back up to Gwent's face, then leaned to peek past him to the nude woman still face down in his bed. "Would you like me to come in to discuss why I'm here … or..."

Gwent answered her by taking a step back and closing the door in her face. He donned his robe and slippers, checked to see that Palla was still sleeping, and went out into the hall. He told Lauren to follow him and headed for the stairs and, ultimately, the kitchen where his breakfast would already be prepared.

"What are you doing here?" Gwent asked with a harsh tone and -- speaking about Daria, obviously -- added quickly, "And what does she want?"

"Queen Daria has decided that it is time for her to get married," Lauren began, "and your presence is required."

"The Queen is getting married," Gwent repeated, chuckling, "and she wants me to attend."

"Yes," Lauren confirmed. "It would be rather difficult for her to get married without you there."

"Why?"

"Because Queen Daria's chosen husband … is the Lord Sheriff of Yarlham."

Gwent came to a slow stop, staring at the messenger with wide eyes. He laughed loudly, shaking his head. "What's going on … really?"

################​

Castlemont, 2 days later:

The Bodyguards escorted Gwent through the castle to Meara's quarters. Even though she and Daria had been sleeping together every night in the latter's bed, the former slave had retained her quarters for other purposes, including official duties. This was one of those duties, convincing Gwent -- who had demanded an audience with her -- to go along with Daria's unorthodox plan.

When the armed men left him alone with his former lover, Gwent smiled to her … then lowered into a very respectful bow before rising up again. "So … you are looking well, Meara … Mistress Meara, I have been told."

 

[SandS13]

Five days seemed to pass quickly. Meara paced in her rooms as she waited for Gwent's arrival. She rubbed the slowly growing bump of her abdomen. Everyday the healer poke and checked her. His tsked and tutted that she was small, the baby small and that she needed to eat more. She tried to explain that being as small as she was meant there was not much room for more food. She was already eating more often, increasing the volume each time was not possible. She was given tea to help combat the nausea but the smell seemed to make it worse.

She felt nauseous now but it was nerves and not the baby this time.

Meara turned and looked at Gwent. She smiled. "As are you." She inhaled, slowly. "Just Meara, please."

She gestured for him to sit and then took a seat nearby. "Daria must marry. Her marrying me would not be supported, will not be supported. They demand she marry and bear an heir. Daria, has come up with a way to appease them and make the baby I carry her heir."

Her eyes softened as she took in his face. He was still so handsome. "You, would marry her. She would lay with you, consummate the marriage and when it is shown she is infertile, your child will be named her heir."

Meara paused to see if he followed. "She gives the nobles what they want. You are made Queen's consort and life is peaceful. You will not be expected to lay with her more than to consummate the marriage. You will have a good life here."

She reached out and then hesitated and put her hand back in her lap. "Do you have any questions? Would you do it, marry Daria?"

 

[PennySaver]

"You, would marry her."

Gwent didn't know how to react. Lauren had told him Daria's proposal two days ago, and yet until this moment he hadn't actually believed it to be true; the Collector had to have been up to something, maybe pulling the biggest of practical jokes ever, and yet here Meara was confirming the outrageous offer.

"She would lay with you, consummate the marriage..."

Gwent's cock twitched within his trousers at that. He only nodded confirmation of what his former lover was saying about his end of the illusion, but inside he was already picturing the incredible Warrior Queen flat on her back while he pummeled her pussy again and again.

His fantasy wasn't an unusual one, of course; every man who'd ever seen Daria in what they all called her Victory Garb had taken the very next moment they could to find a quiet, isolated location to beat himself to release. To make things even more real for Gwent's fantasies, of course, he'd actually seen Daria nude while exiting a stream after bathing in his first days of service to her; he knew what she looked like without her leather and metal decorated conquest clothing.

"Do you have any questions?" Meara asked. "Would you do it, marry Daria?"

"I will … Mistress Meara," Gwent responded, insisting on referring to her with the title he'd be expected to use in public. She'd very nearly reached out to take his hand but stopped, yet Gwent did take hers into his as he swore with a sincere tone, "But I do this not for the Queen or for the Realm. I do this for you and our child."

He stood and reached for his sword, only to find emptiness at his hip. He chuckled, explaining that his weapon had been taken, and dropped to one knee. With his fist pressed to his chest and a steady look into Meara's eyes, Gwent proclaimed, "I vow my being, my faith, my loyalty, and my life … all that I am, all that I have been, and all that I will ever be … to you, Mistress Meara."

He lowered his head, the same as he had when he'd been officially elevated to Noble status. Daria had not been all that excited about making Gwent a Lord that day; she'd only been doing it to get him the hell away from her lover. But she'd pulled her sword and laid it upon his shoulders, one after the other, and pronounced him Lord Sheriff of Yarlham. Gwent had no idea if whether or not Meara was supposed to do anything official; in truth, he doubted it. But he still wanted her to know that he was loyal to her and hers to command.

Hopefully, this moment of dedication to Meara would make her believe later that fucking the Warrior Queen Daria was simply an act of duty … and not the greatest fantasy a man in the Northlands had ever fulfilled.

 

[SandS13]

Meara was overwhelmed by Gwent. He held her hand. Her eyes softened and she wanted to hug him but did not move as he dropped to his knee and pledged himself to her.

Her other hand reached out and laid on his head, it stroked downward to his cheek. "I am honoured to have such a man's pledge. Thank you for this."

She closed her eyes and stood before him. She took the hand that still held her and moved it to the little bump of her abdomen. "You do it for this child. It's life will be better because of this. All our lives will be."

Meara wanted to celebrate. She wanted to smile and rest easy knowing now they could look forward to a peaceful life.

 

[PennySaver]

"I am honoured to have such a man's pledge," Meara told Gwent. "Thank you for this."

"It is my honor," Gwent said, his head still bowed, "and I thank you ... you the Queen for it."

He lifted his eyes to Meara's belly as she lifted his hand to it. The last time he'd touched his former lover had been the day they'd made love for the last time in Daria's battle field tent months earlier. It had been their farewell fuck, and -- even though Gwent had hoped that his seed had reached her garden and cement a connection between them -- he'd never imagined that the result would be his marrying Meara's current lover.

"You do it for this child," she told him. "It's life will be better because of this. All our lives will be."

All of our lives, he mused in silence, contemplated his rise from lowly soldier to Consort to the Queen. I couldn't have dreamed of a better life. Gwent stood, still holding Meara's hand, and while he considered leaning forward to give her a kiss on the cheek, Gwent instead lifted her hand, lowered his lips to it, and kissed it softly as he told her, "I would do anything for you."

He released her hand, took a step back, bowed respectfully, backed again, spun … and was gone.

 

[SandS13]

He kissed her hand and was gone. Meara let out an exhale. It was done. He would do it. She closed her eyes and for a moment imagined how peaceful things would be once this was done.

She rushed off to find Daria. She didn't care who saw, she practically flung herself at the queen as she kissed her, hard and deeply. "He will do it." She whispered against her lips.
------
The bowl smashed against the wall. She had never been so angry in her whole life. Not only had Meara ruined things once but she was doing it again. Gwent was going to marry Daria, become the queen's consort, live in the castle and enjoy the life that she should have.

Hadn't she put her face between the queen's legs enough to have earned that? She closed her eyes and imagined them. Gwent, waking up in the plush bed being sucked off my a chambermaid or worse, Meara. That spawned a new image...Palla pressed her hands to her eyes. She could see it. Daria on her back. Meara on her knees between Daria's legs. The queen in ecstasy. Gwent kneeling behind Meara, fucking her. The three of them together...sweaty and moaning. She bet he didn't brutalize Meara the way he had her.

It just wasn't fair! All this and a baby.

That was it. That was the key. She could make them hurt, make them suffer. A plan began to form. She just needed to get into the castle and stay out of sight. The kitchen staff or the laundry staff wouldn't know her from any other girl. They heard the story but they didn't know it was her. A name change, different hair...that was all it would take. She knew herbs that would cause Meara to get sick. If she got sick enough the baby might die. Or she could just slowly poison her younger sister...

Palla smiled as she thought of just how devastated Daria and Gwent would be.

 

[PennySaver]

Daria barely turned before Meara was all over her; the girls' arms wrapped around her neck, her legs around her midsection; warm, wet, hungry lips all over her own mouth. Instinctively, the Queen reached down to grasp the girl's butt cheeks, more to lift Meara's weight back to gain equilibrium and balance their now joined center of gravity than to actually get a handful of ass.

"He will do it." the pleased, pregnant girl whispered against Daria's lips before another passionate kiss began.

It didn't take a genius to understand about what and whom Meara was talking, and Daria would have smiled in joy … if it hadn't been for who was standing on the balcony of her bed chamber, just out of Meara's view. As Daria was almost prying her excited lover from her body, the guest moved slowly back into the room.

"And who might this be?" he asked with a deep voice and a friendly smile.

The man was tall, a full head taller than Daria, who herself was almost a head taller than Meara. He was handsome, with dark skin and sharp, chiseled features; while 50 years of age, he appeared and carried himself as if a decade younger. He wore a full length robe of thick, dark purple that -- possibly known to Meara, possibly not -- he had measured, cut, and sewn himself as was the tradition of his religious nature.

Though the robe was very simple looking and made of the cheapest of wool fibers, he wore an intricately styled, heavy chain of royca stone -- a rare jewel that came from a single mine in the Northland Mountains -- that if disassembled and sold on the black market was worth enough coin to hire and train an army capable of taking Castlemont from the Black Army. Of course, no one would ever buy a royca stone, whether on the black market or out in the open; possession of such a jewel outside the Priesthood was punishable by the most horrific of tortures.

"Please, Uncle, let me introduce you," Daria said with a nervous voice. She took Meara's left hand in her own left hand and wrapped her right arm around her lover's back, laying her hand upon the girl's hip; it was an intimate sort of embrace without being to suggestive. "Miss Meara of Greendale ... this is my Uncle, Gregor the Wise ... the High Priest of the Northlands Temple."

Daria turned her head to put her mouth almost directly into Meara's ear as she whispered, "Knees … eyes on the floor."

Once Meara had assumed the position of respect, Gregor moved ever so slowly forward until the toes of his also-hand-made slippers were almost touching Meara's knees. He stood there for the longest time simply staring down at the top of Meara's head … then reached a hand out and laid it softly upon the girl's skull … for another eternity … and then finally took a step back.

Daria urged Meara back to her feet, then resumed the intimate embrace between them. Gregor studied Meara for a long moment yet again, his gaze sweeping over her decorated face, her intricately styled hair, her beautiful and expensive dress, and -- eventually -- the belly bump that Daria had insisted her new clothing show off to anyone who saw her.

"This is the child who will follow you to the throne?" Gregor asked in a soft voice.

"No, Uncle," Daria countered with a softer voice than she typically employed. Her interaction with her uncle was far softer than that day when she'd very nearly put a sword through his throat. "I will be wed soon … a ceremony I would be honored to have you officiate..."

Of course the High Priest was going to stand over the marriage of the Queen, but Daria still wanted him to feel as though she was begging him to do it as opposed to simply tolerating him do so.

"...and the child my husband puts in me, Gwent, the Lord Sheriff of Yarlham, will be my heir."

Gregor had been looking at Meara this entire time, but he looked to her now with an expression that he knew this was all a ruse. Still, he did not speak on the lie. He studied Meara again, then stepped close again, laid an open hand upon Meara's belly, and spoke some words in a Northland's tribal language she wouldn't know.

And then, just as suddenly as he'd appeared before the girl from Greendale, Gregor turned and departed from the bed chamber. Daria didn't budge from her stance until she'd heard the door behind them close. She looked over her shoulder at the portal, looked to Meara, then let out a gasp of air she hadn't even realized she was holding. Grasping her lover's face in both hands and gave her a hard, closed lips kiss.

"I'm going to put my head between your legs … right now…" Daria began, already unfastening the strings and buckles that held Meara's clothing to her, "and dine on you until you scream loud enough that my uncle can here you in his fucking temple half way cross Castlemont!"

 

[SandS13]

The man's voice made Meara stiffen. Her eyes went wide in fear. Had she just ruined everything? She did as Daria said and knelt, keeping her eyes down. Her heart raced like a caught rabbits. She thought she might vomit but clenched her jaw so tightly that it started to ache.

When he was gone, Meara let out a soft sob.

"What did he say?" She was shaking as Daria undressed her. "Daria- what did he say? I ruined everything didn't I."

 

[PennySaver]

"What did he say?"

Daria whispered, "It was a blessing."

"Daria- what did he say?" the younger woman persisted. "I ruined everything didn't I."

The Queen finally recognized the panic in the girl's face. She pulled Meara into her arms, holding her tightly. "Calm … be calm, my love. You haven't ruined anything. You haven't ruined anything, Meara … trust me."

Daria could feel Meara trembling against her. She promised that everything was going to work out. "There are only two outcomes. Gregor will believe that Gwent and I are fucking … trying to have a child who will become my heir. Or, more likely, he will know it is a ruse but do nothing. Meara, trust me, my uncle will not endanger the Realm over this.

She kissed Meara again, softly, then smiled. "Let's go to the pools again..."

She leaned in to kiss her lover again, as her hand reached down to find Meara's crotch. She simply whispered, "Or..."

 

[SandS13]

Meara calmed as Daria kissed her, assured her that it was okay, that she hadn't ruined anything.

And just like that..they were touching, kissing and moving to Daria's bed. They were naked, moving together. Lips, tongues and fingers moved over each other's bodies. Meara cried out numerous times, Daria releasing the tension that she had pent up.

In return, Meara made Daria cry out and tremble. She moved upwards, kissing Daria fiercely with her fingers gently running along Daria's folds. "I love you...I love the way you feel like this under me but I love the way you press me to the bed and make my body feel."

With a sigh she laid down next to Daria.
---------
The next day Meara saw to her normal tasks, took petitions and began to look at options for material for Daria's wedding dress.

She ended the day in Daria's bed, naked with the queen's fingers deep inside her body.

If life was going to be like this once Daria was married, Meara couldn't wait.
-----
Palla was in the kitchen. She waited the first two days, ingratiating herself to the kitchen staff. She needed to show that she was trustworthy so that she would be allowed to prep the tea and food for Miss Meara.

 

[PennySaver]

Lord Kriggen approached Daria, bowed his head, looked back over his shoulders toward a group of nobles flanked by her Bodyguards, and said simply, "They're here, Mistress."

"I see," Daria murmured, more to herself than to the Supreme Commander of her Black Army. He again nodded his head to signal his departure, but Daria paused his departure with the softly spoken, "I don't like that they came to you with their troubles, Lord Kriggen."

"Mistress, they are afraid," he began pausing to collect his thoughts. "They fear that if you do not agree with what they have to say this afternoon, that you might send me and my forces into their Counties to ... correct their thinking."

"So they come to you first ... for what?" she mused softly, still petting and comforting Midnight. "For reassurances that you will be easy on them, their forces, their people...?"

Kriggen begins to answer, but Daria looks his way and offers up the alternative that -- while she doesn't show it here -- frightens her deeply. "Or ... are they looking for an ally ... a strong ally ... with a strong army that could--"

Before she could even finish, the Supreme Commander of the most powerful, most well trained, most lethal fighting force on the Continent -- realizing that Daria is questioning his loyalty -- drops to both knees, head bowed deeply, and rapidly repeats, word for word, the pledge that he'd made to her in the Northlands Forest, 14 years ago on that first day when Daria began her reign by bloodily taking the life of a doubter. When he finishes, with his head still down, he states firmly, "You are my Mistress, my Queen ... and I will kill any man -- including myself -- who should ever betray you."

Only now, at this point -- after Kriggen could see in his peripheral vision four of Daria's Bodyguards now closer than when he dropped to both knees -- did he pull his sword from his belt, hold it upon his wrists with hands turned downward, and loft it before him. With a sincere tone, he begged, "Please, Mistress, if you doubt my loyalty ... please do me the honor of taking my head with my own sword."

Daria looked down upon the top soldier for a long moment, her hands still upon the horse that became suddenly excited by the metal-on-metal sound of the steel blade leaving its belt ring. She looked down the trail to the gathered Nobles; they were milling about, now looking nervous as they whispered to one another about the surprised turn of events.

They had come here today to press Daria on the future of the Southern Swales. Daria, through a skilled negotiator, had secured a treaty with the very wealthy confederation of free Counties that would bring them into the Realm without bloodshed. While this treaty benefited Daria personally and the Realm financially -- as well as prevented the loss of hundreds, possibly thousands of lives, both military and civilian -- the agreement offered very little direct financial gain for these assembled Lords.

Daria failed to understand why the treasuries of these men should swell from her dealings with the Southern Swales. After all, she was Queen; this was her Realm; it was her Black Army that would have had to fight a war with the confederated Counties if the treaty had not been signed. Over the years, each of these Nobles had sent men to join Daria's Black Army: dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of men had been conscripted to fight for their Lord via their Queen's conquest of the continent. But few if any of these soldiers considered themselves subjects of their Lords anymore; they willingly swore their loyalty and their lives to Daria, the Warrior Queen, who had trained them, cared for them, and led them into battle while their former Lords remained home in their Keeps and Castles far from the blood.

After almost two full minutes of the man still holding the blade before him on powerful arms that had begun to quiver but would remain their all day if necessary to prove his loyalty, Daria spoke the message he had hoped she would. "Use your sword, my Lord ... and show those who spout promises of loyalty what true loyalty looks like."

Without sheathing his sword, Kriggen stood, bowed deeply to Daria, turned, and headed back toward the gathering of very nervous Nobles. As Kriggen slashed his blade through the air, easily severing the head of Lord Torgessen, the most powerful and vocal of the lords, the rest of the men scattered in panic. Some of the Bodyguard pulled their weapons, but Kriggen called at the top of his lungs, "No! This is my proof!"

Meanwhile, up the trail, Daria went back to petting and calming the now very excited war horse, whispering, "It's alright, my big boy ... it's alright ... your time is coming. I promise."

Daria knew that after today, she'd be riding Midnight into some if not all of the Counties once ruled over by the 8 men Kriggen would kill here today. Ahead of a battalion of her fully armed, fully armored Black Army warriors, Daria would have to remind the subjects of their deceased leaders just who was in charge of the Realm.

##################​

"Thank you, Mistress Meara," the elderly, exhausted peasant farmer on his knees at the base of the dais responded with great emotion and plentiful tears after the young woman had ruled favorably on his petition. He finished with just another variation of how most of her recipients of relief were these days, "May the Gods bless you, the Queen, and your child."

From the shadows of the wings of the Great Hall, Daria watched unseen, smiling with delight. She'd been hearing good news about how the people of both the urban areas of Castlemont and the rural areas surrounding it regarded the baby growing within Meara and Daria's plans to make it her heir. Some of the Nobles weren't as tickled, as they wanted their future Queen or King to be of the Baeran blood line.

But then, when word of what happened earlier this morning spread via the 6 Nobles who Kriggen had intentionally allowed to scramble away, Daria presumed that most of them would fall in line soon enough; most would likely come to her during her own session of Court to grovel and reaffirm their loyalty. Daria smiled a bit wider, wondering what great gifts they would bring her on their hurried visits: gold, jewels, great war horses, sex slaves. The latter had always been a frequent gift, though, these days Daria more often than not gave them their freedom or Joined them to Nobles and Royals with whom she wished better relations. Men of power loved a Consort who'd been trained at how to make their cock go spurt, spurt spurt!

Daria turned and headed for the spiral staircase to ascend to her bed chamber when she caught movement of a kitchen servant out of the corner of her eye. Her heart skipped a beat when she thought she spied Palla ... but ... no, Meara's sister had been banished from the castle and sent out of Castlemont. Lauren, Daria's Collector of all things knowable, had heard that the Queen's former sex servant had returned to Gwent's home, where she'd been regularly and almost violently ravaged by the Lord Sheriff, who hadn't gotten past the fact that Palla had so easily abandoned him for Daria and then crawled back to him once she'd been tossed out the gate.

"Call the Cook," Daria demanded of one of the Bodyguard escorting her. "I want her staff ... her entire staff lined along this wall ... now!"

Within two minutes, the Cook and 14 of her workers were lined up along the wall of the passageway: no Palla. Daria grilled the Cook as to whether each and every one of her workers were present, and after a moment of hesitation -- during which the woman wondered whether or not the new girl was on shift today -- she told Daria that yes, everyone was here.

Daria felt silly ... and a bit paranoid. She looked to the Aide who often followed her with a purse of coin, ordered that each of the 15 be given a Silver, and then dismissed them after telling them, "You are the finest kitchen staff ever to work in the castle."

 

[SandS13]

Meara had heard what had happened in Daria's audience. Everyone had heard. She was in her room, staring out the window. Her hands were rubbing the growing bump.

The healer had told her that in another month she would be able to feel the baby move but she was already feeling something. When she brought it up the comment was that perhaps due to her small size she is feeling it sooner or it was simply indigestion. Meara wasn't overly fond of the healer but she did not protest.

When she was sure it was the baby she would summon Daria to feel and then Gwent. If he was going to be Daria's husband and consort in title he deserved to be a part of the life he helped create. His life was of course, wonderful in this position but Meara knew he had a heart as well and would not shut him out. She didn't want to shut him out..he had said he loved her and she could not deny she still held him to her heart. Not as she did Daria, no...no one would hold that place but she did love him.

"Finna, when the queen is free can you ask if I may see her?"

The woman bowed and left.

The door opened again and Meara turned to see a servant enter with her afternoon tea and some soup. The healers had made it clear that Meara needed to be eating more.

Meara nodded and sat. She ate and drank, frowning. There was an aftertaste but then lately nothing tasted as she remembered. The other night, her roast tasted ashy and her potatoes had turned her stomach. Foods she loved were unappealing and others she craved.

"Little one, you had better make up your mind on what you want me to eat. I cannot live on roasted carrot and bread for the rest of your time in there..." She laughed and rubbed her stomach.
------
Palla had thought she was caught. She thought Daria had seen her. No, she was sure she had. She had been swift to hide away, to not be found as the staff was rounded up. She was glad she had slipped the herbs into the soup earlier. Now, she slipped away. She would have to be more careful.

 

[PennySaver]

Ironically, Daria was on her way to Meara's chambers from the opposite passage as Finna headed down looking for the Queen. When she entered to the unsurprised Meara, Daria immedaitely began giving her an update of what was ahead of them, not understanding that her lover, soul mate, and mother of her child had been wishing to speak to her.

"I hate to do this, my love," she began as she crossed the room with the intent of holding and kissing Meara, "but I must leave the city for some time. We have had a bit of an incident about which I am sure the grapevine has already informed you. I don't anticipate too much trouble to be honest. This morning, three nobles from three separate Counties affected by Lord Kriggen's doling out of justice sought audiences with me, disavowing their predecessors and pledging their fealty to the Realm."

She chuckled. "One even asked for the head of his Count. When I asked if he meant the body ... to be properly buried ... he told me no. He said that the people of his town, after having learned of what their Lord had done and had paid for ... he said they had asked for the head so that they could mount it on a pike on the bridge that separated them from one of the other Counties whose Lord was one of the six who had escaped the Supreme Commander's wrath.

"Back to my reason for coming to you, my love," she continued, crossing to Meara's dining table. She poked through the food, then lifted a spoon of the soup to her mouth, not knowing it was poisoned. "I am going to lead a small Battalion of my best troops through the countryside for a couple of weeks ... couple of months at the most ... just to remind the people of who I am."

She smiled and chuckled, as if to say Like they could forget who the Warrior Queen Daria of the Northlands, the Conquered Territories, and the World Known is.

Daria saw concern in Meara's eyes, and thinking that it was about her own imminent absence, moved back to Meara, saying, "I'll be back soon, my love ... and Gwent will be here to watch over you."

She kissed Meara, then held their faces close as she said playfully, "I think he is still in love with you, so ... if I come back and you have our child, and then four months later another one pops from within that little belly of yours, I'm going to wonder just what you two were doing back here while I was gone."

 

[SandS13]

Meara was quiet as Daria entered and began to explain how things were going to happen.

She laughed. "My love, I do not think that is how pregnancy works..." She kissed Daria firmly. "The love we share, Gwent and I is not as this is. He will not be welcome in my bed. He has a favourite chambermaid who I hear does a good job of seeing to his needs with her mouth each morning." A twinge of jealousy. "Word spreads quickly in this place.."

Meara took Daria's hands. "I had wanted to speak with you about this but it seems the plan is already in place." She placed the queen's hands on her stomach. "I wish I could go with you but I will not ask. It is not safe and the healer would die on the spot if we even suggested it. I will write to you daily about our baby and things here at the castle."

A small shift in her abdomen. "Did you feel that? I think it is the baby. I can feel it inside too..." Her eyes met Daria's. "Come back to us...come back to me, love. Promise me."

 

[PennySaver]

Meara spoke about Gwent's chamber maid and what she did for him most if not all mornings, saying, "Word spreads quickly in this place."

"So I've been told," Daria responded with a knowing smirk, lying as she finished, "About the grapevine, not about Gwent and his maid."

What neither Meara not Gwent knew was that Lauren had selected the fiery headed young woman from the same upscale whore house from which Meeka had come a year earlier and -- after presenting her as a distraction for the former Lord Sheriff -- Daria had assigned her to be Gwent's morning chambermaid. The redhead came to Daria every day to report directly on her service to the former Sheriff, now Lord of Honor to the Queen pending his eventual assignment as her Consort and Husband.

Part of that report was any sign of Gwent's desires to once again bed Meara. The maid had reported that while the man did sometimes reminisce about his short affair with the Queen's soul mate -- including some graphic talk about how Meara had been good as sucking his cock as good if not better than the redhead -- he never spoke about wishing to once again bed Meara.

Disturbingly, though, were Gwent's comment about how he couldn't wait to soon sink his cock deep inside the Warrior Queen's pussy. Daria didn't find this surprising, of course; all sorts of men from all sorts of classes, positions, and ranks had fantasized and sometimes even talked overly about all sorts of things they would like to do to the sexy Queen's body.

Daria's only concern was that this man was going to sink his dock deep into her at some point in the near future. It would only be once, of course, to satisfy the High Priest and, in turn, the Nobles to whom he would secretly report. But she and Meara had talked on this extensively, and they had accepted that it was something that must happen. Daria would set the night of consummation for when she was the most unlikely to conceive, and after that Gwent would return to emptying his cock in the two wet, warm holes of the redheaded spy furnished by the Collector.

"I will write to you daily about our baby and things here at the castle."

"You will write to me three times daily," Daria demanded, as Meara pulled and twisted her hand to lay upon the latter's belly. "While I am away, Messengers will depart Castlemont to ride to deliver messages, and I will demand that before they leave, they come to you. Even if all you write is--"

She'd been about to say I love you and miss you, but Meara's belly shifted under her fingers and palm. Daria's eyes widened and her mouth fell open at the first signs -- to her, anyway -- of life from her future heir.

"Did you feel that?" Meara asked. "I think it is the baby. I can feel it inside too..."

They looked into one another's eyes with deep love. Meara said, "Come back to us...come back to me, love. Promise me."

"I will," Daria said, moving closer and again pressing her mouth to Meara's. "Tonight we'll stay here, in your bed. I want you to think of me night each morning when you rise and each night when you lay down again."

#######################​

The next day at dawn, Daria awoke to the sounds of 500 pairs of boots on the brick paved outer ward of the Castle. She rolled her head to find Finna and Hamma both waiting patiently for her. She looked to Meara and found her still asleep, exhausted by a night of passion and multiple orgasms. Rising to have a robe slipped over her shoulders, Daria led both maids to her own quarters; the Queen had freed Anaka and Pazlee both and sent them off with purses of coin as she had Meeka months earlier, wishing to move past that part of her life -- and the memories of it -- when Meara was nothing more than another slave to pleasure her womanhood.

The two maids helped her dress, then returned to Meara's quarters just as the Queen's lover was waking. They bathed and dressed Daria's soul mate, telling her that the Mistress had ordered her not to leave the room in an attempt to come to her.

A few minutes later, as those who lived and worked inside the castle spilled out into the Inner Ward, lining the edge; Hamma and Finna urged Meara out onto the balcony. The gate opened between Inner and Outer Wards and the assembled force of 500 men entered the Castle in a dazzling parade that had the Company dividing into two columns that moved apart, crossed one another with seemingly impossible precision, rejoined, separated, repeated, and then finally joined once again. A loud call from Lord Kriggen brought the entire force to a sudden stop; the thunderous stomp of 500 boots landing solidly on the rockwork echoed off the castle walls and resulted in an almost deafening cheer that filled the Inner Ward.

"Companie!" Kriggen called again. "Fatana … dreac!"

The entire force performed a right face; again, 500 boots smashed to the pavement, leading to a cheer. The two maids searched the Inner Ward as the crowd below went eerily silent. Then -- finding that for which they were looking -- the two urged Meara almost over the balcony to where she could see their Warrior Queen. Daria, in full armor, was atop Midnight as he moved between the castle and the Company. He was in an elegant canter that while seeming to make him look to be in a gallop had him moving forward at a forward speed even less that that of a trot.

It seemed an almost impossible gait; Hamma -- who had been seeing one of the Stable Masters and was being taught to ride a horse -- commented that if the wind had been blowing in the Mistress and Midnight faces, they might have actually been going backwards. Daria eventually encircled the entire Company, then circled it halfway again, putting herself on the far side of it from Meara's balcony. She looked up to her lover, then reached into her armor and pulled out a piece of cloth, which she affixed to a clip on Midnight's reigns.

"Do you see it, Mistress?" Finna asked with excitement. "Do you know what it is?"

As Meara's Maid was asking the question, Daria's maid was hurrying off to the wardrobe, then returning with a dress that Meara looked at with familiarity. Hamma said, "It's yours … from before."

It was the dress Meara has been wearing when she'd come back to Daria from her short stay in Yarlham with Gwent, before Lauren had come to fetch her back. Hamma turned it about to show where a square piece had been cut out, as well some of the lacy fringe from around the neck. Finna said with pride, "I sewed it myself, Mistress."

Down below, Daria signaled the Supreme Commander, and Kriggen began calling out commands that -- to the cheers of the people again -- resulted in the Company marching out the Inner Gate into the Outer Ward, then through the Outer Gate into the city; a new source of cheering would flood over the castle from out there, too.

Daria and Midnight, however, remained where there were until the last of the soldiers were out the gate … and all the while her eyes had been on Meara. She raised the cloth to her nose and drew a deep breath -- "We doused it," Finna said, referring to Meara's favorite perfume -- then stuffed it away, blew a kiss, turned her mount, and rode off to join the force.

 

[SandS13]

Meara stared down at Daria. She waved, eyes tearing up as Daria rode away.

Good morning my love,

Things are as expected. Petitioners come in but the complaints are getting to be less and less. We are seeing the people more content and those in charge not taking advantage of their power.

The baby moves. The healer tells me it is too early to feel it but I keep asserting I know what I feel.

Gwent visits daily to have the afternoon meal with me. We talk of the kingdom. He has felt the baby move under his hand as you did. He has assured me that I am right.

My stomach is unwell. A light nausea. That baby craves beef. It amuses Finna that I constantly ask for roast. The kitchen has humoured me.

I miss you.
Love,
Meara.

Daily updates were sent the first three days that the queen was away. Then they grew more sparse. In their place letters from Gwent arrived.

Mistress,

I write because Miss Meara cannot. The illness she was feeling grew and she finds herself in bed or on the chaise, relaxing. I spend time watching over her, fearing that the illness is great. The healer assures me that it is nothing, just the baby growing and taking more from Meara. He gives her tea to calm the nausea and we following his orders to make her eat more.

We await news of your victories.
Gwent

By the sixth day, Gwent wasn't sure the tea or more food was actually helping. Meara seemed to be growing paler each day. The healer kept saying she was fine and it would pass.
-----
Palla hated that it was taking so long for her sister to die but then she didn't want to overdose her. If she was too eager there would be an investigation and then she might get caught.

In the meantime, Palla had taken to poisoning one of the kitchen staff. Because she couldn't see Meara she decided by watching the girl slowly grow sicker she could enjoy it by proxy.

Oh, and the chambermaid that Gwent seemed to enjoy so much? She had found a way to slip the poison to her too. The doses were bigger though. Palla didn't like the idea of someone else pleasing him. He would be hers once more as would the queen. She would take her place in the large rooms with the servants.

Just as soon as Meara and her parasite died.

 

[PennySaver]

Daria crushed the letter from Gwent in her clenching fingers, then tossed it into the fireplace of the Keep in which she'd been staying for the past three days. It was the third straight letter from the Lord of Honor without any contribution in Meara's handwriting. It had been 16 days since Daria rode out of the Castle, and -- according to Gwent's letters, as well as those from the new Healer -- Meara was only getting sicker with every passing day.

"Mistress, you can't!" Lord Kriggen said with a firm tone that no other subject of hers could -- save for her lover -- without fear of having a hand or head cut off. "You can't ride off back to Castlemont now to be at the side of Miss Meara."

Daria knew her Supreme Commander was right, of course. The reason for being out here was to remind the people that Daria was not to be trifled with regarding any issue, including her relationship with Meara. The love affair between the pair was no secret, of course. The peasantry didn't give a rat's ass about Daria and Meara sleeping in the same bed, particularly since the latter had been helping them so publicly at Court. The Nobility, however, would use any excuse to increase their own power at Daria's expense.

The quest to tame the population had been proceeding well. The now-dead Nobles had riled up the people with stories of a bastard child of a sex slave and a soldier being in line for the crown, but the sudden appearance of the battle hardened Black Army marching into their towns and cities had brought any possibility of rebellion to an end...

...until yesterday.

One of the nobles Lord Kriggen hadn't killed that day during Daria's play date with Midnight had, surprisingly, returned to his County and mobilized his army. Sending a letter to Castlemont, he had declared his lands no longer in fealty. A couple of days after that, another letter had announced his defensive alliance with, of all places, the next Earldom Daria had had scheduled for invasion.

A Brigade of 2,000 men was being mobilized throughout Daria's Realm in preparation for an expedited war, and right now just simply wasn't the time to be running home to her soul mate for something that might be nothing more than a minor but ultimately unharmful complication of pregnancy.

"Messenger Commander!" Daria called loudly. When the officer in charge of the communication riders hurried to a stop near her, she ordered gave orders that a rider was to leave this camp every four hours, night of day, for Castlemont with one and only one task: check on Miss Meara's health, then send another messenger back immediately with the word.

Daria took a moment to write a message, handing it to the man before commanding, "Send this now!"

The note was addressed to Gwent and read, If Meara dies without me by her side, I will bury you with her, alive. If you fear her life is in danger, you will send for me immediately.

#####################​

"Palla!"

Gwent's former lover spun at his voice, her eyes growing to the size of saucers. They were in a Service Basement level of the Castle when he'd spotted her while searching for his redheaded, cock-sucking Chamber Maid.

"What are you doing here?" he asked with a combination of surprise and, to be honest, concern for her safety. He hurried forward, grabbed her by the arm, and led her off into a dark alcove. "You can't be here! If your sister learned you'd slipped back into a working position within the castle, she'd … well … actually, I don't know what she'd do, but I know what Daria would do. She'd cut you up into little pieces and feed you to the Watch dogs."

A pair of hurrying footsteps led Gwent to pull her further back into the shadows. When the person had passed, he looked into Palla's eyes and said with concern, "Your sister is ill. I … I don't know how she would welcome a visit from you, but … if you want to see her, I can arrange it."

 

[SandS13]

"No, I shouldn't see her. She might tell Daria on me." There was bitterness in her voice. "I was here to get closer to you.." She cooed and ran her hand on his chest. "Haven't you missed me?" She pouted.

Palla didn't want to talk about Meara or her being sick. She wanted Gwent to forget about all that.

"I have to go..." She kissed his cheek. "Don't tell on me." She darted off to the kitchen.
------
Meara laid in the bed. Gwent was sitting in a chair nearby. He was looking pale.

"Are you alright?"

"No, I am beginning to fear something is poisoning the water. Or contaminated some of the food."

The healer entered and was checking Meara over. "You need to eat more."

"I cannot keep anything down."

The healer shook his head. "Because the baby is too hungry. Broth and tea, every hour. Fruit and meat every two hours."

Meara groaned and rolled over onto her side. She drifted off.

Everyday was the same. Morning brought Finna and the servants to bathe her, brush her hair and get her walking around the room. She felt as if she was growing weaker by the day. She could not hear petitions but Gwent had them written out and he read them to her. Then he wrote out her responses. Meara didn't want to let the people down.

Everyday she ate and then got sick. Over and over again. Gwent was also growing ill. Meara and Gwent issued an order that the water be checked and all cases of illness reported. Then Gwent's favourite chambermaid was found dead.

Then once of the kitchen staff fell gravely ill. Then another.

Letters were sent daily to Daria. There was fear that her enemies, those who opposed her might be trying to kill the people in the castle. Soon the letters didn't come from Gwent's hand but a scribe who took dictation. Gwent reported that he was growing ill and Meara could no longer get out of bed without the help of the staff. She was too weak to stand. Promises were made that they were doing their best and that they were trying to find the source.

 

[PennySaver]

"I was here to get closer to you," Palla cooed to Gwent, caressing his chest. She pouted, "Haven't you missed me?"

He had; he most certainly had. Despite the attention he got every morning from the redheaded Chambermaid and the additional attention he got from a scattering of tavern wenches all about the city, Gwent had missed sinking his cock into the wet, warm holes of Meara's older sister.

"I have to go..." she said, kissing his cheek. "Don't tell on me."

As he watched her rush off toward the kitchen, Gwent was conflicted. He knew he should -- at the least -- put her on a horse back for Yarlham and get her away from the danger she faced here in the castle. If either Meara or Daria were to learn of Palla's presence here, the nearly 20 year old would be punished in ways that would stick with her the rest of her life … if she lived through them.

Daria would likely have her executed, Gwent thought to himself. Of course, if Daria had known Palla was here at the same time that Meara was possibly on her death bed, the Queen would have suspected that the elder sister was the cause of the younger sister's sickness. Gwent, however, was so lost in his thoughts of lust for all three of these women that it hadn't even occurred to him that Palla would kill her own sister. After all, who does that kind of thing?

#######################​

One by one, the members of the civilian militia came forward, dropped their arms and armor, dropped to their knees to proclaim their fealty to the Warrior Queen of the Northlands Realm, the Conquered Territories, and the World Known, then were forgiven by Daria who stood there beside Midnight in the stripped down version of her battle field armor.

The day before, the treacherous Lord who'd defied her weeks earlier had been captured, hung overnight in the town square, and -- just after dawn, before the gathered populace -- cut down and then cut into pieces to be ridden throughout the realm as a sign of what happens when you crossed the Warrior Queen.

And now, for the last several hours, one militiaman after another had been coming from across the country to surrender his arms and armor and pledge himself. Most of them hadn't wanted to fight for their lord anyway; they'd been very happy serving Daria, and the only thing their nobleman was going to gain them was death and destruction.

The Lord's standing army would have pledged their fealty to Daria, too … if any of them had lived. The Black Army had swept through the countryside, the town, and the Keep as easily as a knife through butter, killing all with less than a 15% casualty rate of their own. The defeat had been so spectacular that Daria had already received a letter speaking of peace from the Earl to the south with whom the now-dead Lord had joined efforts.

This all meant one thing to the Queen: it was time to go home.

It was time to go home to Meara.

"Secure the frontier with the Earl," Daria ordered Lord Kriggen. "Pay each of the militiamen who has surrendered one Silver, and distribute another 300 silver throughout the town … to wives who lost their husbands … to the poor. Coppers to the rest. I want these people to know they made their right decision."

Once she'd finished her work here, Daria mounted Midnight and -- surrounded by her Bodyguard -- rode for Castlemont, stopping only long enough to rest and feed the horses once before continuing onward again.

###################​

Back in the castle, Gwent sat in a cushioned chair that had been taken out to the balcony so he could catch some fresh air. He had wanted Meara to join him, but she was too ill to even leave her bed and the new Healer -- who knew no more than his predecessor about Meara's illness -- had warned that the sometimes chilled air might not be good for the pregnant woman.

It had been a full moon, 28 days, since Daria left on her quest. Word had reached Gwent that the Queen was due back here tomorrow morning, just after dawn. He worried that it might be too late.

He'd taken Palla up on her offer the night after finding her in the castle, taking her to a dark corner in the kitchen level, bending her over a strong wooden cutting table, and pummeling her pussy from behind until he was grunting out at the pure joy of emptying his cock inside her. He made it clear to her that so long as she submitted to his animal needs, he would keep her presence here secret.

And yet, after just a few days of wondrous climaxes in both her pussy and mouth, Gwent didn't have the energy to even fantasize about violating her, let alone actually doing so. The last time he'd seen her, Gwent told her to leave the castle before Daria returned, for your own safety. He didn't know whether or not she had, of course; there were far too many things about which to be concerned right now than the rumor mill: his redheaded cock-sucker -- who had also been complaining about not feeling well -- had been found dead in the morning, laying right next to Gwent; yet a second kitchen staff member had slipped into the next world, and several others from all about the castle were beginning to feel ill.

The original Healer had suspected poison might be the cause, yet the illnesses -- and the disconnect between the varied victims -- hadn't been associated with any known poison. The replacement Healer had once again taken up the investigation of possible poisons, but again … nothing. It had to be something in the water or food, which had led to a thorough across the boards investigation into every single item that any person in the castle put into their mouths … well, except for cocks, pussies, and nipples.

 

[SandS13]

Palla had taken off to hide in the town. Daria was returning. Meara hadn't died fast enough. Gwent wasn't sick enough. She was glad the red headed bed warmer was dead but it didn't make her plan move any faster.

Aggravated and annoyed she would have to wait at least three days for the castle to settle down once Daria returned. She feared the poison hadn't taken enough of a hold in Gwent yet. She couldn't understand how Meara was holding on but there was no help for it now. The one glimmer of hope was the Meara's body was so overrun it might still kill her.

Palla would wait, bide her time and then in three days would return to the kitchen to resume her work. Maybe she would poison Daria too.... Plans whirled in her head.
-----
Meara felt the cloth washing her body but it was all she could do to find the strength to breathe. She didn't open her eyes, didn't move.

Finna had removed the woman's night gown and was wiping her body down with cold water. She feared that the fever she had developed would grow too high and that a bath of cold water might be too much on her fragile system. The healer said the baby still lived and that it grew. The bulge of Meara's abdomen showed the truth in that but the servant feared Meara would die before the baby was born. It was too early yet but Finna had heard the healer whispering to Gwent that the baby might come early because of the sickness.

And still no one knew what was causing it. Finna had taken to only eating food she picked herself and water she got from a spring.

"Daria.." Dry lips, whispered words.

"She is coming home to you. Do not worry. Rest now."

Meara's body shuddered with her shallow breaths. Finna called for the healer and Gwent before dressing her once more.

 

[PennySaver]

At the far south edge of Castlemont, a bell began tolling with energy … then closer, another … then finally, in the Temple Steeple within the Inner Walls of the Castle, the bell there began to clang. A Bodyguard knocked on the doors to Meara's quarters, waited for Finna to open the door, then crossed to the balcony. Despite it being barely after sunrise, Gwent was there, leaning over the stone wall, weak but refusing to give in and sit or lay down.

"The Queen, my Lord," the Bodyguard announced to the Warrior Queen's Lord of Honor. "Mistress Daria has returned."

Gwent contemplated ordering the man to bring Daria directly here, but it would have been a waste of words. He looked out upon the castle and city. By the opening of gates and hustle of Castle Guards, it was obvious that Daria was approaching at high speed. From the balcony, he saw the Queen dismount the big black horse even before Midnight had come anywhere close to a full stop. Daria glanced upwards and caught sight of her future husband; she stopped for just a moment for some sign from him, and when all he did was continue to rest upon the stone barrier, she rushed in through the Castle doors.

"Meara, my love," she was whispering less than a minute later as she sat gently on the bed's edge. The fear in Daria's face was obvious; Meara was dying, or so she was certain. "Can you hear me, my love?"

When the pregnant woman only murmured something incoherent, her eyes still closed, Daria stood, spun, pulled her sword, and stabbed it outward at the Healer; the tip just barely penetrated the man's throat, drawing blood and a cry of dismay and pain from the man who began backing away slowly.

"Why do you not know what is wrong with her?" Daria chastised in a soft growl as she maintained the blade tip's pressure on the man. The Healer, too panicked to respond, came against the wall with no where else to go. Daria growled again, "Why is she still ill...? Is it poison? Fever? Bad water or food? Speak!"

"We don't know, Mistress," Gwent offered as she waddled across the room toward Daria. "It is not the Healer's fault … with all due respect..."

Gwent suddenly collapsed to the rug covered hard wood flooring. Daria sheathed her sword, and with one of the Bodyguard got her intended into a chair. She and the Healer spoke of what had been happening and about how this had all been too much of a mystery.

"My love..."

Daria rose quickly at the words, coming from the bed. She hurried back to Meara's side, she sat and leaned down to kiss her lover's forehead and cheek and lips, pleading with her to be well and not die and thus leave her all alone.

 

[SandS13]

The room was a flurry of activity. Some were seeing to Gwent, some to the panicked healer and some to the queen though it became clear she only cared about the woman in the bed.

Finna took care of things. A cot was brought in for Gwent, no one wanted to move him far as he seemed to have taken a turn for the worse or maybe it was just now that he could give in to the illness. No one knew for sure.

Meara's hand weakly gripped Daria's as sleep took her once more.

The next few days passed though everyone in the castle could feel the tension. By the third day, Gwent was showing signs of improving. Meara's breathing evened out but she was still quite waxy and tired.

It would take a week before the staff who had been affected and Gwent seemed back to normal. By that point Meara was sitting up in bed, weak but more alert and able to stand on her own.

 

[PennySaver]

Daria sat on the edge of the bed, watching her lover gently wake to the ringing of bells throughout Castlemont. She smiled down at Meara as the girl's eyes opened, then leaned down to kiss her gently on the lips.

"Help me," Daria whispered to someon who was beyond the closed drapes of Meara's canopy bed. Finna joined the Queen at the edge of the bed, and together they very carefully helped Meara into an upright position, her feet coming out to be slipped directly into soft, pre-warmed slippers. Daria kissed her soul mate softly on the mouth and told her with a smile, "The Healer says it is safe for you to stand and even good for you to walk. I want to show you something."

The Queen and servant each took one of Meara's arms, stood her, and helped her descend the two steps from the pedestal bed. Daria saw Meara's reaction to the absolute treasure trove of flowers, exotic plants, carvings, pottery goods, and more that -- since Daria announced to the city that Meara was on the mend -- had begun being brought to the citizens of Castlemont.

"And this isn't even what I want to show you, my love," Daria told the fattening mother-to-be. The two women helped Meara slowly toward the balcony, which the Healer opened at their arrival. There was a sudden rush of cool air, and Daria called for a cape. Once Meara was more warmly wrapped, Daria and Finna helped her through the door and onto the balcony...

...and the population of Castlemont exploded in joy!

Down below the balcony, Daria's Bodyguard and the Castle Guard -- each of which had been expanded after the recent incidents to 5 times their sizes -- shifted from parade rest to attention with another one of their boot stomping gestures; castle staff and others permitted within the Inner Wall surrounded the Force and both cheered and waved clothes that were all the same color; and the most incredible of all, dozens if not hundred of men, women, and particularly children stood or sat atop the roofs of buildings throughout the city, and upon the silencing of the bells at Meara's appearance, they erupted in cheers and flag waving as well, for as far as the eye could see.

"Remember this?" Daria asked, producing the lacy-edged cloth that Finna and Hamma had cut from her dress and sewn into a remembrance before the Quest. Daria noted that the clothes and flags and other cloth and flowery objects below were all close to the same shade. "I think the people have picked the color of your Crest … which, by the way, you will need to have created soon as you will soon officially become a Lady of Castlemont … in addition to … well, I guess we haven't figured out what to call you yet, have we?"

Daria pointed to the middle front of the 100 strong Bodyguard Company, asking, "Do you approve of my new Commader?"

It was Gwent, in a whole new and very elegant wardrobe, sitting tall upon his horse, now gowned in the colors of the Bodyguard. Daria said softly, "He's still recovering, too, and I tried to talk him out of suiting up for this, but he insisted."

 

[SandS13]

Meara leaned on the two women as she walked. Not only was tired but her body was weak and it made the baby feel heavier. Her head rested on Daria's shoulder. There was great comfort in her presence.

Her head lifted, eyes wide as she took in the sea of flowers, plants and gifts that filled her room. "What is all of this? I don't.."

She looked back over her shoulder at it all as they brought her to the balcony. She was wrapped up and they stepped out. Meara almost staggered at the sound. She was glad Finna and the other servants had been bathing her and brushing her hair. At least her colour and the dark circles under her eyes were the only thing to give away her illness.

Meara was overwhelmed. She gripped Daria's hand. "Yes I remember..." Tears filled her eyes.

"Oh, he looks very handsome in his new clothes." Her chin trembled. "For me? This is for me?" She looked at Daria and tried not to cry. She smiled and then lifted a hand to wave back at everyone. She couldn't believe that they had come to see her.

"Crest? Lady?" She waved a little more and then relaxed against Daria. "It is all..I cannot thank you enough."

Finna leaned in. "We should bring her back in to sit. Out of the bed. Let me change the sheets again this morning. There is some soup for you. Not just broth and bread."
-----
Palla was hiding in the the back of the large crowd. She was angry. Gwent wasn't dead. Meara wasn't dead. The wretched baby was hanging on. Daria had returned unscathed and all intended to go through with the marriage. She hadn't gotten anything she wanted yet.

Well that wasn't true. The red headed bitch was dead but she hadn't been able to get to his bed since Daria returned. It was far too risky. She couldn't poison the food anymore since now everyone and everything was under scrutiny. She had to give up even getting into the castle.

Palla had taken up with a guard. One of low status but who had access. She figured that the wedding might be a good time to strike and she would need into the castle. He would grant her that. IN the meantimes she was biding her time. She tested out poisons on blades. This was her new favourite idea. All she would have to do was get close enough to stab Meara and that would be the end of her.