Welcome, Reader!
This is my third try at uploading. I lost my old account, and then I uploaded my series improperly. Hopefully, this will be the product that I want to present the Lit readers.
This story was conceived as a present for one particular person, who encouraged me to share it with all of you. It takes place in a vaguely medieval/magical world. I've made some effort to keep the environment and dialogue faithful to the setting, but truthfully the story and pretense for sex takes centerstage, and I only worry about setting details if it jumps out at me in the moment.
I hope you have fun reading!
Chapter 1 -- Diversions
Princess Carina was blessed with beauty and intelligence, and she was an accomplished sorceress. Her father, the king, had conquered the land of Torin, which was far from their home, and the princess had been sent there to rule in his stead. Her guards were handpicked by the king, and her staff was of the highest quality. As a leader, Carina was wise and strong, though at times she may have been too compassionate.
Everyone believed that the princess was the most fortunate person in the world, which is why the servants were so distressed to see her fleeing to her chambers, tears streaming down her cheeks. Carina hated herself for crying in front of others. She was the representative of the king and couldn't show weakness to her subjects. But the princess had precious few friends, and she had been betrayed by them. At this point she wasn't even surprised at betrayal, but that didn't make it hurt any less.
Carina reached her chambers, closed the door behind her, and leaned against it sobbing. She tried to think of happier times, but that only brought memories of further betrayals, and the princess threw herself on her bed, buried her face in a silken pillow, and cried and cried. As her tears began to run out, she came up with a plan. She began studying her spell books and sent for the necessary materials. Using her eldritch powers, the princess summoned up all the trust from her heart in the form of a crystal. It was an emerald the size of a fist. Having done this, with a wave of her hand and a great flash of light, she banished the crystal to a far off land and hid it behind many defensive barriers. "I'm done with trust," the princess said, and so it was for some years.
--
It was early spring in Torin, and the palace was holding a party to celebrate the melting snow. The walls were adorned with colorful tapestries and more than a hundred nobles and sycophants crowded into the massive palace hall. Carina performed her royal duties admirably, conversing with the local nobles, allaying their fears and flattering their egos. As the night drew on, the princess grew weary. She was considering sleep when she noticed a man across the ballroom stealing glances at her. His long, dark hair and full beard made it clear that he was not from Torin. His clothes, while elegant in their own way, were out of place at this high class ball, because they were made of rabbit fur and deer hide. Carina made certain not to look at him again, and discreetly asked her lady chamberlain, Sophie, "Who is that man?"
"Your highness, that is a trader," she spat the word as if it tasted sour, "from the lawless lands in the north. His name is Jon. One of the nobles insisted on his admittance, I understand he is very successful. Should I have him removed, your highness?"
"No," she replied, with a little too much haste, "Thank you, Lady Chamberlain."
Carina tried to ignore the man. He was but a trader, and from the lands of the north, which had no name and no king. Still, she couldn't help but watch as he made small talk with the nobles, and every now and then, looked to the throne. This went on for a while before Carina got careless and he caught her watching him. They locked eyes and he stared into her. The way he looked at her sent fire through Carina, longing that she thought she had been long past. She couldn't take it any longer and quit the throne, leaving the party without waiting for the customary announcements.
Carina had intended to return to her chambers and go to sleep. To be done with this night. But she was no longer tired and she wasn't ready to face what her body might do if left in her bed. So, she found herself roaming the halls in a wing of the castle which had been all but abandoned for the party. More out of habit than anything else, she called on her magic to create an illusion. It was a glamour that she frequently used when she wanted to be alone, making her and anyone she touched unable to be seen or heard by those not under the spell.
The torches were burning low, so she stepped onto a balcony and looked out over her moonlit kingdom. Beyond the wall of the castle, the township stretched right to the ocean's edge. Only a few lights were on this late at night. Most people turned in shortly after dark, but the inns and the guard patrols still had their fires lit. Carina's eye traveled out to the shore and the docks. Torin was a major port town and had been since before it was conquered by Carina's father. The lady chamberlain had wisely encouraged trade in the years since. Hundreds of boats were now docked, and although they were little more than specks from this distance, the princess wondered which of them belonged to the trader.
Suddenly, Carina realized she was thinking of this man again, and grabbed her hair as if to use it as a hand hold to pull the thoughts out of her head. She spun around and stormed back into the hallway. No sooner had she crossed the threshold than did she slam into a man wearing well-tailored rabbit furs and deer hides. They collided with such force that Carina would have fallen over had the trader not caught her in his arms. Carina jumped back and gasped, and Jon exclaimed, "Your highness! Where did you come from?"
The princess was speechless, still trying to take in what had just transpired. She had touched him, meaning he was now under her glamour.
Jon furrowed his eyebrows questioningly and asked, "Are you alright, your highness?"
"It's you," were all the words Carina could make her mouth say.
"Do you know me, your highness?"