Disclaimer: I do not own The Shannara Chronicles. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Author's note: This story takes place after Season 1, but takes place sometime after and deviates from canon.
*****
Eretria was bored. Unlike last time she was here she wasn't a prisoner and could freely wander the halls, go nearly everywhere, but even after everything she had done, they had done, the Elves stared at her and whispered behind her back. They did that anyway, but it was easier to stay in her luxurious quarters, and read the many, many books Amberle had.
Eretria also stayed here because everything smelt of Amberle, or at least had been touched by her, and she'd be able to put up with just about anything if she could spend all day in this bed which was filled with the scent of her secret girlfriend and their love making.
It was probably the worst kept secret in the Palace, if not the entire kingdom, that they were lovers, but since returning to Amberle's home they had been forced to hide their true feelings, making this their only sanctuary. Because it was bad enough they were both girls, but an Elven Princess loving a human, a mangy Rover at that, was unspeakable.
There were those in the Palace that Eretria was sure would kill her if they had the slightest proof that she had perverted their precious Princess, but even though she was pretty sure they would never hurt the future Queen Eretria was mostly worried about Amberle, and was greatly relieved when her girlfriend finally made her way through the door, closed it behind her and leaned back against it with a sigh.
Of course she had to play it cool, "That bad, huh?"
"No." Amberle admitted, "About as well as I could have hoped."
This understandably made Eretria nervous, "Then why the long sigh?"
Looking apologetic Amberle slowly approached her lover and confessed, "The council is permitting me to marry Will."
"WHAT!" Eretria exclaimed, losing her cool facade as she jumped off the bed.
"Eretria..." Amberle began as calmingly and soothingly as she could, "Let me explain, I-"
"You want to marry him?" Eretria accused, crossing her arms while trying and failing to return to her usual aloofness.
"God no." Amberle said bluntly.
"Then why?" Eretria whined.
"I'm trying to tell you." Amberle huffed, and then when her girlfriend motioned for her to continue she sighed, "The council would never allow me to marry a human. Let alone-"
"A girl?" Eretria offered.
"I was going to say Rover, but yes." Amberle said softly, "But they will let me marry Will. He is at least half Elf, and a hero to the people."
"And a boy." Eretria grumbled.
"Yes, and that." Amberle admitted, before kneeling down in front of Eretria and added, "The council would prefer I marry one of their suitors-"
"I bet they would." Eretria interrupted again.
"God Eretria, let me finish!" Amberle snapped, quickly finishing, "The council would prefer I marry one of their suitors, and Will would prefer I was marrying him because I loved him, but he and the council nowhere my heart really lies."
There was a long pause and then Eretria dryly said, "That's not very fair on Will."
"It's not fair on any of us." Amberle admitted, "But if I am to be Queen, it is a necessary deception. The council, and my people, will accept him as my husband, and he will have some power when I'm crowned. And he will be free to date whoever he wants, as long as he is discreet, while-"
"You get the throne, and I get to be your whore." Eretria huffed, turning away from her secret girlfriend.
"Eretria, please..." Amberle said softly, gently reaching for her lover, "You know you're so much more to me than that."
"But I won't be." Eretria said softly, "I'll be a joke. We'll be a joke."
"We already are." Amberle said, tears falling from her eyes, "And I can't change that."
"You can." Eretria said, turning and cupping Amberle's face, "Run away with me. Like we should have done from the start. We'll be poor, but we'll be free and happy."
Even more tears falling from her eyes Amberle admitted, "I can't leave my people."
"You mean you won't." Eretria said flatly, turning away, "You'd rather stay here and be Queen, with me as your human pet."
There was another long silence and then Amberle asked, "What if I was yours?"
"What?" Eretria frowned as she turned back to face Amberle.
"Can, can we sit down? Please?" Amberle asked softly.
"I guess." Eretria shrugged, the two girls sitting on the bad before continuing their conversation.
"I... I said, what if I was your pet." Amberle asked, and then when Eretria scoffed the Princess insisted, "I'm serious."
There was yet another long pause and then Eretria asked, "What do you mean exactly?"
Amberle sighed, blushed and then took a deep breath before explaining, "If we are forced to seemingly confirm everything they say is true, what if we turn it on it's head? What if behind closed doors I am your Pet Elf. Your slave who lives to please you."
Another pause and then Eretria asked, "Why?"
"Because I would do anything to make you stay." Amberle explained, even more teary-eyed than before, "I, I can't do this without you, but it's unfair of me to ask you to stay and be a joke. At least this way, every time you have to hear someone making a joke at your expense, you'll know its you who has the last laugh."
Another long silence and then Eretria asked, "What am I supposed to do?"