Lord Gideon Elrik sat at the ornate table in his grand hall. He was at home, which was odd considering he spent as much time away from his Keep as possible. But duty dictated that for a few weeks at a time he must come home, survey the lands, deal with the taxes, and associate with his wife.
His wife was the main reason that he did not enjoy these visits home, Helena was...difficult. Oh she was pretty enough, with long blonde hair and ivy colored eyes, she was indeed lovely to look at. At first she had even been wonderful to be with. She had been demure, artistic, and seemed honorable enough. It took him only until their wedding night to realize the mistake that he had made. Helena was as cold as they came. She had lain there, impassive and unresponsive as he touched her. Her only speech had been "Hurry" As much as he would have liked to have believed those words to be lustful...he realized that she just wanted it to be over and no amount of cajoling could persuade her mood to be otherwise. The first few weeks of their marriage Gideon had tried to coach his wife into passion...but he was met with a brick of ice.
It was nearly 3 years later, and since those first weeks he had taken to her bed only twice. Both times had been as bad, truthfully worse, as that first time She had seemed so unwilling that he'd gone limp before his pleasure could be had. It had been awkward...and depressing.
So there they sat, staring at their plates, and ignoring one another except to ask for this or that. They made very small talk about the goings on of the manor, Ragnor Keep was a wealthy home favored for its high mineral content and favorable training grounds for the armies. Inwardly Gideon sighed. He could not fault Helena for keeping the manor running, she did it very well, but it was done with that icy efficiency of the confidently emotionless. For what seemed like the millionth time he wondered where he went wrong.
He finished off his roast, pushing his plate away. He stood bowing to her, she replied with an inclination of the head. He paused for a moment as they began their final ritual of the night.
"Will my lord seek out my chambers this night?"
"No Helena, I am weary and seek rest."
He turned and he heard her let out a sigh of relief that brought an ache to his chest. Where had he gone wrong?
~
"You could divorce her." came the flat voice of Aden, Gideon's cousin. They sat across from one another in the den of his Keep. They drank a dark brew from horned cups and talked of whatever came to mind.
"No...she's of the catholic law...they don't do that."
Aden sighed and shook his head, "I told you before you married her...you should have found a woman of the Old Way. Fierce...wild...passionate...and beautiful." Aden leaned back with a pleased smile.
"Not all of them are as wonderful as your Eulewyn..." Gideon lifted his glass in salute to his cousin's fair and wonderful wife.
"No, not all of them, but you would have been better off."
Gideon would have argued if he hadn't had the sneaking suspicion that he was right. Gideon had loved his wife once...loved her so much he had thrown aside his own beliefs and married her. And it had all been for naught.
"Why don't you come back with me...you can stay at Loch Burach for a few weeks...maybe find a woman who strikes your fancy to keep you warm for a few nights."
Gideon shook his head. "I am pledged..."
"How will you ever get sons off of a woman who can't even slake your lusts?"
Once again Gideon had no answer.
~
Night after night for two weeks Gideon sat across from Helena at diner, and stayed from her bed. On the eve before his departure he woke in his own bed...alone and needy...at first he started to relieve himself...rubbing the hard cock with his hand...thinking of having a woman above him...someone wild and passionate...like the tribeswomen of the north. He could almost feel her round hips in his hands....full and soft as she rode him...
No...he should not thinking of other women...he had a wife...he should be with her. He threw on his robe and made his way to his wife's chambers...only to hear from the hall that they were not occupied by his wife alone.
He stood in the hallway...unsure of where to go...what to do...he though for a moment that he should be angry, furious even. But he couldn't seem to find the heart for it. Years had passed between them without affection. Why should this matter now?
When the door opened he watched the figure come from the room hooded...pausing at the door he heard the sounds of a goodnight kiss and the robed figure walking away....he thought for a moment that he might leave her be...but no. He wanted answers.
"Is that the reason you did not wish me in your bed?" He called stepping forward. Helena jumped guiltily.
It seemed for a moment she could not speak. Finally she bowed her head in shame "Yes..."
"Did you ever love me?"
Another pause...this one longer. "I thought I did...but..."
"But it passed..." He finished for her.
She nodded and looked up. "I am...sorry..."
He turned from her. "Me too."
~
Aden passed another drink to Gideon. "You've been here...moping for weeks! You admit you don't love the woman, and that she doesn't love you...yet you've taken no other to your bed."
Gideon shrugged and drank from his cup. "I don't know what to tell you, cousin...none have struck my fancy, some are beautiful, and willing enough, I'm sure...but they...they don't...." Gideon waved his hand in a dismissing gesture.
Aden shrugged and finished his cup, "Ah, well...can't please them all. Ahhh...Aria...."
Gideon turned around to see who had come in the door...and felt his mouth go a little dry. She stood in the doorway, the light from the hearth fire making her look like some sort of pagan witch. Her skin was the color of the palest peach...and looked just as soft. Her hair was unbound and laid about her shoulders in a straight glistening wave of rich brown. She had a bow slung across her back tucked into a handmade quiver of arrows. Her outfit was doeskin breeches...form fitting, stretched tight across full round hips. Her shirt was a mans shirt, loose and billowy, but the firelight struck it and made parts transparent to show that nothing beneath the clothing was masculine.
Aden didn't miss the look his cousin gave Aria, and he smirked *finally* he thought to himself. Aria was a bit to masculine for him, but perhaps...perhaps for Gideon she might be good.
"Gideon, this is Aria, Eulewyn's sister. She was at the wedding...but younger then."
He saw recognition pass over his cousins features. "The scrawny bridesmaid?" He exclaimed before he could stop himself.
Aria gave him an angry look.
"Sorry...I just mean...I meant not offense."
She sighed and shrugged, "It was the truth I guess...still..."
*wonderful....nice going Gideon...real well done* Aden shook his head and smiled.
"Aden?"
All three turned and saw the pretty woman in the doorway. She resembled Aria, the same soft colored skin and bright eyes...but her hair was thicker, darker and lush with waves. Aden smiled. He was indeed proud of his wife.
"Aria! You're back!" Eulewyn pushed forward and flung her arms around her sisters shoulders. "I'm so glad...you'd been away for so long."
"It was two weeks, hunting's been a bit thin."
"You're a hunter?" Gideon asked.
"Hmm...well being so scrawny I had to find some trade I was good at." She gave him a wink to show she was teasing. Gideon smiled back. And a look past between the two of them everyone noticed. Aden took his wife's hand and stood from his seat.
"Well...I'm fatigued...and now Aria is here, perhaps she can keep our brooding guest company."
Aria shrugged, "I'll be up a while yet...go...keep my sister warm."
