This took longer than I expected, been distracted of late. World events can give great inspiration yet can also break the heart and I sincerely hope that we have seen the worst of it.
As before I warn you that this story involves bisexuality so if you do not like same-sex relationships or divided affections than this is not the story for you. If you are okay with it than enjoy :þ
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Chapter 2: The Grand Ball.
Jelena had heard the whole conversation, King Talus had already made up his mind who Athanasia was to marry. She was scared for her Princess as any number of the men who waited for an audience with her could have made a deal with her father. Her choice might not matter any more.
Athanasia marched out of the throne room in a bad mood, "The insufferable bastard," she seethed as she took Jelena into her arms, "He has already sold me!" Her resolve not to shed a tear at the hopelessness situation came dangerously close to failing.
"Then I suggest we think quickly about what to do," Jelena whispered urgently in the Princess's ear, "The one out you have is to pick a man before the deadline."
"But who?" Athanasia swallowed hard to stifle the sorrow she was slowly drowning in, "My precious Jelena, if I make the wrong decision I may never see you again." The gravity of the notion hit Jelena hard. "Hush my delicate flower," Athanasia caressed Jelena's cheek lovingly, "I will not let anyone take you from my side, ever."
The shorter young woman gripped her tighter, "We must act soon or it will be too late."
Athanasia tilted Jelena's chin up and met her lips with a tender kiss, "I love you."
The young women returned to the Princess's room to ready for the evening, neither of them talking as the only topic to talk about depressed both of them.
Jelena solemnly dressed the Princess for the third time that day, a ball gown that suited Athanasia's mood. A midnight blue with black diamonds and sapphires now graced the tall Princess making her pale skin look ghostly, she looked as though she was ready for a funeral and not meeting her future husband..
Athanasia stood before her mirror and took in her image, "Just like the tragic Queen on the way to the executioner's block," she commented, "Though I almost envy the prospect."
"Maybe I could find out who your father made the deal with," Jelena suggested.
"How?" Athanasia broke down again, "Only my father and the man he made the deal with knows that information." The Princess turned to look at her lover but she had already left.
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Jelena ran as quietly through the halls as possible, she had her goal in mind and would do what ever it took to make sure that Athanasia would remain close. Her feet carried her to Prince Castor's room, she knew where it was but had never been in there. She knocked quietly on his door.
Castor opened it, the shock he felt at seeing the woman of his dreams standing in front of him paralysed his body to the spot.
"May I come in?" Jelena whispered, her voice filled with fear.
Castor nodded and stepped aside. Axel, who had been sitting with the Prince in a vain attempt to calm his fear of rejection, made his good byes and left. Jelena began to pace in much the same way Castor had no more than a minute ago.
"You sister is in trouble," she informed him, "Your father has already decided who she will marry."
The news had distracted Castor enough to, "What?"
"King Talus has made a deal with someone," Jelena could not hold her fear in any longer, "I'm afraid for her." She collapsed into his arms and sobbed.
Castor had dreamed of holding this precious young woman for so long but not like this. He pulled her into a tight embrace and took in the warmth she radiated. To see her in such a state broke his heart, he wanted to take her pain away to kiss that trembling lower lip. "How do you know my father has already made a deal with one of the suitors?"
Jelena sniffed, "He told her that if she fails to decide then she will marry of his choosing."
Castor began to worry, who could have made a deal with his father so quickly? "And you have no idea who?"
She shook her head, "I was hoping you would know."
"I wanted Sir Axel to be my sister's suitor," the Prince mentioned, "I have to somehow get my father to give him a title."
Jelena's head shot up, "That would be perfect," she said excitedly, "I could see that she was at least attracted to him." She hoped that Castor would manage to succeed, she prayed that he would succeed. "Castor, I know that you have plans for me to become your wife," her statement caught Castor by surprise.
"I had planned to court you after Athanasia was married," he admitted, "I have wanted to court you since you arrived at the palace."
"I will agree to marry you if you can guarantee Sir Axel as Athanasia's bridegroom," she rushed out before she backed out.
Castor's jaw dropped, "What?"
Jelena composed herself, "I said that I will be your wife if you can arrange that your sister becomes Sir Axel's bride."
She chanced a look up at shocked Castor's face, "This was not how I imagined it would be," he finally said sadly. "I had wanted you to fall in love with me, not offer yourself as payment to save my sister from an unfavourable match."
"You don't want me," she sighed, feeling the fear rise in her again.
"I did not say that," Castor reassured her, "I will compromise, I won't marry you but you must agree to allow me to woo you and if you find yourself falling in love with me then, and only then, will I marry you."
He gave her the same smile Jelena had frequently seen on Athanasia's face, perhaps he would not be so bad as a life partner. He clearly loved her but she still could not feel the same intensity for him as she did for his sister. "Alright," she nodded, "But you must find a way to rescue your sister."
"I will," Castor smiled and kissed her hand, "Promise me that I will get the first dance."
Jelena's face split into a small smile, "I promise." The Prince released her and watched her leave. His heart swelling with hope.
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In his room, Baldassare opened the cylinder he had packed with a few choice potion recipes inside. He had one in particular on his mind, a sleeping draft designed for the Princess. The scroll was delicate and old but the information it carried was worth more than its weight in gold. The Wizard King laid the parchment out on the desk in his quarters and began to assemble the ingredients together taking care to place each phial, jar or bundle in its place ready for use.
With a flick of his wrist a bronze urn appeared and floated gently onto the desk, "Eye of newt, virgin's tongue," he chuckled at the cliché use of fake items, "Really smelly stuff." He grasped a jar of ground hollyhock buds and emptied half the contents into the urn, the powder looked like dried blood. "Valerian root juice," he mumbled as he added a few drops along with the powdered remains of an odd ocean fish and a bunch of dried berries.
Baldassare picked up a stick to mix the concoction then added a whole bottle of red wine and sparked a fire under the urn. He let the stick continue to stir as he moved onto something else, a jewelled ring with a hidden compartment, "The classics are always the best," he murmured moving back to the urn that had boiled down to a thick syrup with the berries still spherical though somewhat wilted.
Pouring the contents into a flat dish he pulverised it as it was dried into a powder. Scooping a little into the hidden compartment in his jewelled ring he tipped the rest into a small bottle and slipped it into his coat pocket.
Baldassare had used the sleeping draft many times in his plans to gain power. The night he drugged the Lunetta family was so easy it was laughable. The entire clan had gathered for a celebration and he was invited as a trusted member of court and adviser. It took little effort to drug them as they toasted his loyalty and friendship, ironic that they chose to toast him as they drank the wine with the sleeping draft sealing their own demise. After that it was easy to cast the spell to lock them in the painting that now holds them prisoner, forever to look out at the world but never to walk it again.
His plan this evening would be similar to that night, only he would slip it into the Princess's wine and wait until she excused herself to retire for the night then it was only a matter to follow suit and take her while everyone was still busy with the ball.
With a wicked grin he began to prepare for the ball ahead.
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"I tell you Axel," Dirk remarked as he selected another garish outfit to impress the royal family, "Once the Princess is my wife she will not be allowed to wander out of my sight without an armed guard by her side."
Axel rolled his eyes at the obnoxious Count, "I am sure she would like some time alone or to spend with her entourage of ladies."
"And she can," Dirk smiled, "As long as she has someone to watch over her she may do what ever she likes." He turned towards his Knight, "I would like you to be the one to watch over her."
Axel needed to inform his employer to the request from the Prince to also try for Athanasia's hand. "Sir," he began, "I have something to tell you."
The Count chuckled, "Are you to tell me about what you were up to with the Prince?" Dirk turned back to his work, "Putting in a good word for your employer?"
"Not exactly," the Knight huffed, "Castor has told me of a concern he has for one of the potential suitors."
"A trouble maker?"
"The King of Galnoa," Axel answered calmly, "He is one of the likely successful suitors."
"Why would he talk to you about King Baldassare?" The man's curiosity piquing.
Axel hesitated, he had to say something. "The Prince requested that I try my luck with the stubborn Princess."
Dirk glared at him, "You are my body guard, not a suitable suitor for a Princess of the realm!"
"I have been offered a title should I succeed," he explained, "And I have met the Princess, albeit briefly. She is quite beautiful, enough for me to accept the suggestion to try my luck."
