This is part 3 of my Ascension of Azaron series, the plot of which is heavily reliant on events in the previous chapters. I encourage you to read those for context before jumping into this story, unless that's your thing, in which case welcome.
Part 3: Negotiations
Mab rested her head on her lover's chest as the carriage set out for the Pixie Court, where she would meet with the Queen of the Unseelie and attempt to unite Avalon. This would most likely require marriage to the Princess of the Unseelie, but Mab figured with the Oberon at her side, she would have a lot of political clout to draw on. While she jealously guarded Azaron as her lover and key to justifying her rule, she was ready to have him seduce the queen if need be. While Azaron was not sure he'd care for the queen if she was anything like Mab's mother, he was willing to do what was necessary to unite the courts and rule all the Fay. They set out for the Pixie Court as a neutral ground to negotiate on, and to ensure the Pixies would recognize the union and submit to the United Courts.
Mab let out an agitated sigh, prompting Azaron to kiss the top of her head.
"Don't stress my darling, I'm sure this will go well," he assured her, moving his hand to take hold of hers.
Mab nodded. "I know, but still, it's a whole project and I'll miss our home..." she sighed once more, then looked up at Azaron, "and all the wonderful sex we have." She giggled playfully at this.
"If you think being away from home will stop us from having sex you'll be pleasantly surprised," he chuckled, lifting her chin up before taking her into a deep kiss. This of course led to Mab straddling his lap and Azaron magically removing their clothes. While they enjoyed themselves in the carriage, Mab ensured everyone in their entourage would hear this.
Mab had developed a habit of being incredibly loud during sex so everyone in the palace knew about her very full sex life. Her relationship with Azaron was crucial to everyone accepting her as the new queen, and she was sure to hold a very public marriage ceremony out by the lake, welcoming hundreds of commoners so they could see and know she was responsible for the coming of an Oberon after thousands of years. She also did this to spite Marianna, who was kept just because she had been running the palace for so long it seemed inconceivable to remove her. Marianna was eventually brought into a threesome with the king and queen so they could take the opportunity "to ensure her loyalty," as Mab put it.
Aside from this, Mab went out of her way to improve conditions in her palace, increasing the wages of her servants and holding a ceremony of respect for her court. With their support at home secured, Mab and Azaron took the next step in their political ambitions and set out for the pixie court in the Great Forest.
Things were going very well, and uniting with the Unseelie court seemed to be the logical next step. Diplomatic feelers had been sent early on after removing Titania, and the Unseelie seemed receptive, but they did of course need proof of Azaron being an Oberon. This meeting would assure them of this fact, and provide an opportunity to hash out the details of the union.
All this political maneuvering was often spearheaded by Mab, but it also stressed her out, as she really wanted to just make love to her husband and be doted on by servants, but she had the opportunity to be the most successful queen in thousands of years of Fay history, and she couldn't let this chance pass without fighting for it.
Azaron always encouraged his wife's ambitions, as he found her desire to rule incredibly sexy. He also knew that in the realms beyond the veil, holding titles not only gave you legal powers, but magical ones as well. Mab, moving from Queen of the Seelie to Empress of Avalon, would not only give her legal control of the realm, but also give her near divine power. If these negotiations failed it would set their plans back substantially, as the courts were equal in resources and military forces. Total war was alien to the Fay, and diplomacy was a much more likely route to success. While they were both confident the negotiations would end in union, they were unsure of what concessions they'd be asked to make.
The stress of the situation was made bearable with copious amounts of intercourse. Mab and Azaron humped their way across the palace, making sure every room experienced their lovemaking, much to the annoyance of their servants. While the royal couple stayed out of sight, Mab's moans ensured everyone knew what was going on.
...
The door to the carriage was opened as the King and Queen of the Seelie Court were announced with much fanfare. The Pixies spared no expense as they welcomed the two great courts. Mab and Azaron spared no expense on their lavish robes of green and purple, and they were sure to have everyone revel in their glamor. As Mab was the younger of the queens she was introduced after Queen Freya.
The parties were shrunk down with Pixie magic to fit into the palace of the Pixie King and welcomed in for the ceremonial dinner. The King of the Pixies sat at the head of the table, with Fraya at his left and Mab at his right. Freya had brought along her daughter Morgause, who took little interest in the food or the company. Morgause occasionally flirted with Mab, but beyond that was completely disengaged. Mab spent most of the dinner talking with Freya, who took quite a liking to Azaron.
Mab dangled Azaron like a piece of meat before Freya, having them dance together at the ball, making Azaron bring her fine wines to drink, and spending plenty of time talking of Azaron's perfect physical form and insinuating (in a rather crude fashion) his abilities as a lover. This plan backfired when, in a more private setting in a backroom of the castle, the Unseelie Queen shared her intention to trade Morgause for Azaron.
"--Your highness, I couldn't possibly allow Azaron out of my court," Mab insisted, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.
"I understand, but he'd still be your husband, and with Morgause by your side, you'd have a greater claim to concern yourself with as Empress of Avalon. Besides, I'd be sure to bring him on my visits to you and my daughter." Freya insisted before sipping her wine.
"There must be some other way," Mab protested, doing her best to hide her irritation.
Freya sighed heavily and placed her goblet on the end table next to her. "I can't leave my daughter and the Oberon in the Seelie Court while I am left alone with nothing to show. We can't bring the courts together and my nobles will never accept a deal where I come back having handed everything to the Seelie." Freya explained in a very matter-of-fact way with a slight shrug. "Your marriage to my daughter is key to uniting our queendoms for the first time in millenia. I have to imagine that would cement your rule even if the Oberon weren't present."
Mab stared hard at the queen for some time before finishing her drink and letting out another heavy sigh. "I must retire to my bed for the night. I'll consider this and speak with you tomorrow."
Freya nodded, and the two queens parted, returning to their respective quarters. Azaron scarcely had time to greet his wife before she fell sobbing into his arms, much to his surprise.
"I take it the negotiations did not go well?" he asked as he lifted her up and sat on their bed, pulling her to his lap.
Mab sobbed for some time while Azaron attempted to comfort her. She eventually pulled herself together and recounted her conversation with the queen to her husband.
"That is...unfortunate," Azaron began considering ways out of this situation. He'd murder Freya, but she was related to the Asgardian gods and that was far above his pay grade. There was nothing much they could offer as collateral for Morgause, and even if they rotated on a schedule, that would be months or years without Mab, which would not sit well with either of them.
Azaron finally decided they should rest before trying to consider this further. Mab couldn't sleep though, her mind desperate for options. Her eyes stared blankly at the wall as Azaron held her. He knew she wasn't sleeping, which meant he wasn't going to either.
At this point Mab turned abruptly to face him with new energy in her eyes: "Do you think she's gone to sleep? Freya? The Unseelie are known to be nightowls. She is probably awake, resting in her room..."
"...and?" Azaron asked, more confused than anything else.
"You should go to Freya and seduce her, see if she'll let her guard down and tell you what she really wants. See if we can find some other way..." Mab took his face in her hands and stared into his eyes intently. "Do this for me, My Love."
Azaron could not refuse her. "Of course, Dearest," he agreed, kissing her softly before reluctantly getting up and heading to Freya's guest suite. Mab's idea was desperate, but not without merit.
Azaron made his way to Freya's room and was admitted by her guards. He entered to find Freya sitting by a fire with a book in her hand. She wore a silk robe that was not tied, revealing much of her soft pink skin. The silvery material rested over her large, proud breasts, just barely exposing her wide magenta areola. She sat with one leg over the other, her robe draped over her knees. Her long white hair had been let loose to flow down her shoulder.
Freya bit her lip and took in the sight of the man before her with great enthusiasm. "I was hoping you'd come. I assume you're here to continue the negotiations?" she purred.
Azaron stood by the door in his robe, which sat tightly around his large frame. His empowered, muscular body was hardly hidden by the thin fabric, and his powerful legs were on full display. He held the loose knot in his belt and played with it a bit, hardly hiding a smirk from the woman across from him. "I am," he confirmed, tilting his head slightly.
Freya took a deep breath as she placed her book on the table in front of her, then folded her hands in her lap and smiled innocently at Azaron. "And what have you come to offer?"
Azaron casted a spell, producing a bottle of fine wine. "Shall we?" he smiled, taking a few steps closer to her.
Freya chuckled and gave him a nod, summoning two glasses from thin air. She gestured to the chair across from her, inviting him to sit with her by the warm fire. Azaron did so and poured them each a glass.
"You've put my wife in a difficult situation, although I understand why," he finally admitted, handing her a glass.
She nodded as she took it. "I have no doubt you two love each other, and while you'd miss each other for a time, your wife would find herself busy managing her empire, and you'd find yourself busy managing..." she paused suggestively, running her hand down the seam of her robe "my private domain." Her lavender eyes locked on to his.
"While this is a tempting offer, I think you'll find that I'm very inexperienced with managing such things," he spoke coyly.
