Ch. 03 - Wine of Fort Dongannon

Sir Elinor's attendance was patchy over the next few weeks. A princess she may have been, but Doe wasn't of age enough to participate in royal councils, and wouldn't be until after her twenty-first birthday. But that didn't stop her hearing rumours. Or, more to the point, listening for them. And as a woman with free access to the palace, they were not difficult to come by.

She had briefly considered asking someone, but knew their answer would be sweetened and condescending. 'You don't need to worry yourself with that, my lady,' she imagined, 'It's all being taken care of'. But she did manage to gather that the soldiers from Skerryness and Cavandare had been requested to attend some sort of treaty in the east. And sure enough, that night, it wasn't Elinor's knock that she heard.

"Yes, yes, come in," she said impatiently.

She had bathed earlier, and had hardly thought it worth getting dressed again. And as the door opened she saw it was Alfred who would be having his way with her that night.

"Good evening, Ma'am," he said.

"For goodness sake," Doe huffed. "What did I say about calling me that? You've had your dick inside me how many times? Surely you can bare to call me by my own name?"

"Yes, Miss."

"Even Princess would be better! Or, as beyond you as it might seem, you could use that imagination of yours to think of some sort of pet name. Or is it all brawn with not a lot going on upstairs? That seems to be the way with most soldiers."

"Forgive me, but my imagination is redundant when so little is left to it."

Doe frowned, then realised he was talking about her lack of clothes.

"The sooner we get started, the soon you can leave. I felt it might prolong things significantly if I was to trouble you with the intricacies of lace stockings and bra clasps."

"You need not patronise me, Ma'am. I am just doing my job."

"I have told you not to call me Ma'am!"

"I shall stop calling you Ma'am when you show me respect in return."

Doe wasn't sure what was happening, but it was as though something had twisted inside her. Princesses didn't get spoken to like that. And she liked it.

"Just do me," she sighed, kneeling on the bed and waited for Alfred to disrobe himself.

Doe felt him get onto the bed behind her. She wondered briefly if her arsehole was visibly looser, for she was giving Alfred the view of his life. But if it was, he didn't comment. Then she felt his rough hands seize her hips and pull her rear end towards him. She felt his cock tap against her pussy before he positioned himself and pushed. Doe allowed herself a moan as he eased himself in. Once he was all the way, he pulled out and began to fuck her.

It was all very orderly and all very ordinary. She liked doggy-style. She could just perch there without feeling smothered by a body sprawled over her. He carried on, and after not half as long as she had secretly hoped for, she felt the pressure build and his pace pick up as Alfred began to climax. She was pounded hard once, twice, three times, and then felt the showering of warm cum over her back."

"Thank you, Alfred," she said. "That will be all."

"Yes, Princess," he replied.

* * * * *

They were all as useless as each other, Doe thought as she had her third teacher of the week. They were supposed to be battle-hardened warriors, crop of the military, heroes of the realm, defenders of Skerryness. So why couldn't any of them outlast her in bed? The sooner Elinor was back, the better.

But she didn't need to wait long. The palace was often a quiet place during the day, and the unmistakeable clatter of returning horsemen cut through the air like turret bells. Several of the maids and servants heard them also, and briskly swept outside to welcome them back. And Doe swiftly followed.

"What news do you bring?" Doe heard the guard captain address the unit, and catching up with the throngs saw there were eight horses with their riders.

"The situation is under control," one of the soldiers said. "We have come to say that we should be returning in full by the end of the month. We are to hold negotiations in Lanara in three days' time, but we are not stretched. We feel, for the moment, our use is better served here."

"Then we will gladly make use of you," the Captain said. "Dismissed. You may return to your posts tomorrow."

But Doe didn't care for the words of the Captain. She could recognise Elinor even with his armour and helmet on, and would tell his chestnut horse in a field of twenty. And as the horses began to make their way, she strode forward.

"Elinor!" she called as the crowds dispersed.

He turned and acknowledged her. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Do you have to owe pleasure? Can you not just be pleased to see me?"

"This is my servitude, Doe," he explained. "I am a knight of the realm, and though my duties may, on occasion... stretch beyond military engagements, my bondage is to the safety of these people."

"You enjoy the bondage, don't you?" she raised an eyebrow. But in her heart she knew he was right. She didn't have any true feelings towards Elinor, not that she could tell, anyway. But it was impossible to have sex with someone over a prolonged period of time and not gain an emotional attachment. In her mind he was like her mentor, her counsellor. She felt she could broach any topic of conversation with him and, unlike the coy and manner-abiding lords and ladies she might query, he would give her proper answers and discussion. Not the infuriating 'That's not a question a princess should be asking'. It wasn't lust, or yearning, or even love, thank the heavens, that she missed when he was away. It was the rare sliver of consistency in her life.

"What's it all about, anyway?" she asked, recovering herself. "It's been perfectly quiet here without all you lot clanking around."

"A curious one like you, I'm surprised you've not found that out for yourself."

"Well I try, but no one wants to spoil the ears of a perfect little princess by filling them with stories of war and battles. 'Let the big people take care of it' they say. So I stopped asking them, and I waited for you instead."

"Well, you're somewhat resourceful," Elinor chuckled. "It's far too complicated to go into the politics of it all right now-"

"I don't want all that. I just want to understand."

"Well let's see," he stroked his chin, then sighed and dismounted to stand next to her. "A long time ago the people of Adara divided the land into eight provinces, the eight we know today."

"Yes, I know that!"

"It's all relevant. Since then the borders of those territories have shifted and moved as kings and queens barter or trade them, gift them, win them in battle, or simply forget where they are."

"Didn't Glenahull used to be much bigger?"

"It did, until Castle Coe grew a military large enough to take most of it by force."

"Let me guess, Lanara is trying to invade someone again."

"It seems as though some of the townships near the border have been trying to unlawfully take the land beyond, which, in turn, has led to a retaliation. Which again, in turn, has led to a bigger retaliation. It's a senseless venture, if you ask me, and we're just there to make sure it doesn't get out of hand. It seems we spend half our time policing that bloody kingdom."

"Then how long are you here for?"

"A couple of days, yet," Elinor said, "but that reminds me of something. There's a tradesman from Fort Dongannon coming tomorrow. I'm sure you're aware that wine is one of the largest imports of Skerryness."

"You know how it is," Doe scowled. "I'm not taught the proper ways of a queen until I pass the trial. After that I'm sure it will be all politics, trade deals, treaties, public speaking, decorum and etiquette, responsibility, how to eat a meal using seven different spoons. But now all I get is a good shag every night. And hardly that when I'm stuck with Alfred, or one of the others who can't tell a nipple from a nightstand."

"Well," Elinor continued, "wine is hugely popular in Skerryness, moreso than most realms. An envoi from Dongannon comes every year to meet with your mother, and to discuss what they can offer, and arrange shipments for the next season. I think it would be... useful, if I was to take you along, so you could see first-hand how such deals are structured."

Doe looked at him, not knowing whether to express politeness or disgust.

"Excuse me, Sir Elinor, but I feel I know well enough how these deals are 'structured'. There is some talking. He gives a price. My mother lets him fuck her. Skerryness gets discount. Is that not it?"

"For one ignorant of politics, you've not gone far wrong," he conceded.

"Then why, Sir Elinor, are you suggesting I go and watch my mother wrap her ankles behind her neck and beg for a stranger to fill her up?"

"Because it is what you will do one day," he said sternly.

"But I do that anyway, every night. Strangers, as well, when you're not here."

"I will not make you go. I do not have the power to do that. But I think it would be of use to you. And," he glanced sideways at her, "I very much doubt the lords and ladies would approve of their princess seeing something as vulgar and carnal as this.

* * * * *

That night, it was indeed Elinor who came to Doe's quarters with roses and a chivalrous apology for his absence. But his time away from her was evident when, not a minute after unfastening his trousers and taking him in her mouth, she felt him tense and release himself into her throat. She coughed and withdrew in surprise, sticky strands hanging from her lips.

"Do you have no one else to shag when I'm not there?" she scowled at his brevity.

"My apologies, but a soldier cannot attend to matters of the heart when on duty."

"Could you not have attended to your own matters before you came to see me? What have you been doing all afternoon?"

"Being a knight isn't all feasts and fighting. The royal duty is a thankless task."

"You could've at least warned me you were about to fill up my throat!" Doe spluttered.

"I'm afraid it was almost as much of a surprise to me as it was to you. But now you'll just have to entertain me until I can teach you a proper lesson."

"Entertain you how? You're no good for entertaining the way I've been brought up to entertain."

He ushered her onto the bed and lay down next to her.

"Well we could talk. I could tell you about all the things I've been up to whilst away. And you can regale me with the inadequacies of your suitors."

"You'll definitely have recovered by the time I get to the end of that line of enquiry."

"Then tell me, have you considered our conversation from earlier? I hear the owner of the Marissy vineyard in Dorneaux himself is making the visit. In a country whose major export is wine, vineyard holders are the real stakeholders and politicians."

"Let me guess. Over-entitled and overweight?"

"That mouth of yours will get you into trouble one day."

"It just has done," she said, wiping it. "And I'm sure my mother's, too, if Mr. Marissy is so-inclined to put it there."

Elinor chuckled. "We could disguise you. No one would even know you were there."

"I'd know I was there," Doe said, though with a little less conviction than before.

"You'd be able to mingle with the high lords and ladies," Elinor continued. "Nobody would question why a knight has brought his side's-person along. Have you never thought about interloping on one of their councils?"

Doe paused. It sounded like a thing she very much wanted to do.

"Fine," she relented. "For the principle, if not the... event."

"Excellent." Elinor rolled her over so she was on her side, facing away from him. She sighed pleasantly as he caressed her buttock.

"Are you nearly ready?" she turned back to look at him, and as she did she felt something, still slimy, slide up her thigh and touch her most intimate place.

"Almost."

He reached around and seized her breast, and immediately Doe felt his dick tense upon her pussy. She reached down, gasping slightly, and took it in her hand, feeling the remaining softness disappear as she did. She positioned herself, and himself, and moaned loudly as he slowly pushed himself in.