"Sir James?" the quiet voice on the other side of the door
woke the Blessed Protector for the second time.
"Paul. Come in, softly, man." he called, raising on an elbow
to study the sleeping king.
Brushing the thick hair back from his closed eyes James was
not surprised to feel the smaller man stir against him. The hand
on his chest curled into a fist and then relaxed as those magical
eyes opened and stared up at him.
The knight stared back. He was aware of his valet coming
into the room carrying a stack of clothing, but it wasn't
important. The only thing that mattered now was those eyes and
the worry he saw in them. The face betrayed nothing, but the
eyes...
"Good morrow, my king." James leaned to whisper the words
into an ear, breaking contact with the deep blue eyes.
"Um, good morrow, Sir James." the king shivered but did not
pull away. If anything he moved closer to the large warm body
that held him. "I..." he bit off whatever he was going to say and
buried his face in James' chest, trembling.
Paul looked up from the table and James waved him out with a
flick of his wrist, hearing the door close solidly behind him.
Tenderly he stroked the curly hair, pressing Blair's face
into his skin, feeling the warmth of tears.
"It's over now, my king. Your throne is secure, there is
nothing to fear."
"I know..." Blair hiccupped quietly. "I don't know why I
cry."
"Because you are tired and sore and confused." James soothed
with sweet kisses to his head and neck, hands gentling. "Because
your life has changed tremendously in only a few days."
The king nodded and clung to him, catching his breath and
relaxing all at once. James squeezed him tightly and risked
pulling Blair up where he could kiss him.
The king yielded to him, softening beneath his mouth and
hands, molding to him.
"Is there anything I have to do today?" he asked
breathlessly when James pulled away to breath.
"Only the dinner tonight. The coronation will be tomorrow."
James heard the desire in his own voice and hoped it did not
frighten the young man.
"Then I want to stay here, with you. I can do that, can't I?
You don't have anything to do?"
"My life is yours, King Blair." James said on a sigh.
"Then teach me more of this, Sir James."
"Gladly." James rolled them both over, covering the king
with his body, kissing him hungrily. "But first we will eat and
bathe."
Blair allowed himself to be pulled from the bed and settled
in the chair before the fire. James made him a plate of cold
meats, fruit and sweetbreads, poured a goblet of fruit nectar,
then moved the buckets closer to the fire to get the water hot.
He sat on the floor at Blair's feet to eat his own food. The
king was quiet, making small comments on the food, a hand resting
comfortably on James' shoulder.
When the food was gone and the water hot James bathed him,
his large hands gentle and loving, finally wrapping him in a
large cloth and lifting him bodily from the tub to lay him on the
bed.
Blair lay back on stacked pillows and watched James bathe.
His eyes traced the planes of muscle, the curves of his ass and
thighs, the breadth of his shoulders. Aware of the scrutiny,
James turned forward to let the younger man get a good look,
feeling himself harden under that gaze.
Blair's eyes were drawn immediately to that length of him
and he sucked in a breath, then smiled and chuckled.
"It felt bigger last night."
Surprised by the laughter James joined in as he stepped from
the tub and briskly dried himself.
"That wouldn't be an insult, my king?"
Blair's smile widened and he held out his arms as James
approached the bed.
"Nay, my protector. I insult thee *not*. Merely a drowsy
statement of fact."
Sliding up the bed to embrace him James answered the smile
with one of his own, Blair curling to his chest as if it was the
most natural thing in the world.
"And how does it feel now?" he kissed the top of Blair's
head, the damp curls clinging to his skin, newly flushed.
With a wiggle Blair tested it and then looked up to smile
again, shyly this time.
"Not too bad. A bit sore....like I've been riding too long,
a little."
James laughed softly.
"Riding too long indeed! You have yet to ride at all,
precious."
The endearment made Blair's eyes grow wide and he sighed,
pressing a kiss to James' chest just above his heart.
"I did not know last night what I was going to say until the
words left my mouth. I think my heart guided me in this, to you."
he whispered into smooth skin, feeling James' powerful hands
stroking him with such gentleness.
"I hope it will lead you to me many times, my king."
Blair rolled to lie on top of James, propping himself up on
his elbows and scooting to look into his eyes.
"Your place in my bed is decided, Sir James. You are welcome
there until you tire of it. But there is one condition."
Hiding the elation those words brought, the knight answered
calmly.
"I am yours to command."
"When we are together...like this. Do not call me king, of
highness or any other title. My name is Blair and I would have
one person beside me who uses it."
"As you wish." James smiled. "Does that mean I can't call
you precious?"
Blair blushed. James watched the red crawl from his neck
until it covered his face, but the younger man didn't drop his
eyes, stared into James' own steadily.
"Precious, little one, beloved...." James crooned the words
as he raised his head to capture Blair's mouth with his own, his
tongue slipping in to wrap around the other, tugging on it
sensuously.
"My knight, my sky, my strength...." Blair answered with
sweet words of his own when they broke for air. "Show me what you
like."
Gently, strength restrained, the Blessed Protector gave his
King a generous lesson in the art of love.
*****************************************************************
Entering the main hall Blair had to stop and take a deep
breath, fighting down a blush.
What he had done last night -- and most of the day -- was
normal, he reminded himself. Something most people did openly and
with joy. It only bothered him because he had spent so long among
the monks with their rules that governed such behavior, and
because he had been so new to it.
He was stopped as he walked across the floor, a hand tight
on his arm. Startled, he turned to reprimand his accoster, but
instead smiled and closed his own hand over the one that held
him.
"Holly, how are you?" he asked the wild-looking woman that
blocked his path. It had long been believed that lunatics were
actually privy to things others couldn't see and so they were
allowed free run of the castle and were under his protection.
Shaking her head slowly she bobbed a quick bow and moved
aside, her hand running down his arm and patting his hand.
Gallantly her took hers and brought it to his lips, watching her
face to see if he could draw a smile, but the strangeness had
returned and she slipped from his grasp and into the crowd.
Fondly he watched her go and continued his path across the large
room.
Feeling the deep ache when he sat at the head of the table,
he grinned suddenly. *Very* new to it, but that would pass.
He looked up suddenly, catching Sir James' eyes as the
knight stationed himself at the door. It would have been nice to
have him here, at the table beside him, but this was tradition.
The Blessed Protector ate alone, when he was no longer needed.
The chairs to either side of him were empty and Blair felt
isolated. They were reserved for two people who didn't exist yet;
his wife and heir. The high court sat just past them, not too far
to make conversation difficult, and he blinked suddenly, glancing
at them.
They were all standing. Waiting for him to give them
permission to sit.
Oops. Quickly he lifted his goblet and gestured to them,
knowing that he had set the tone for many meals to come. In the
future he could speak or wave or even bring in musicians to
signal the beginning of a meal, but this suited him. Simple and
practical. He'd just have to remember to do it sooner.
Entertainment for dinner was provided again by the minstrel
and Bard and Amazon, R'Rain, Lisa and Arete, again following
tradition. Music was for everyday meals, not puns or the Jester.
Shawn stood behind his chair and that made Blair
uncomfortable at first, but he relaxed when his friend gave him a
cheerful smile and stole an extra bite of his desert, a cream-
puff pastry concoction that Blair couldn't begin to finish
anyhow. He would have to have a talk with Denise soon and discuss
the menus. There was far too much meat and too few vegetables for
his taste, and the sweets, while nice, didn't need to be an
everyday thing for him. He knew that his mother had always
allowed popular tastes to choose the menu, but she had often
ended up eating in her room late at night. Perhaps he too should
adopt that custom. It had given them private time together and
allowed the rest of the household to relax without the presence
of the throne while they ate.
Sir James shifted his weight, the movement barely
discernable. King Blair had taken to his lessons with enthusiasm,
leaving the brawny knight with an ache he'd rather not explain.
Feeling as safe as he ever did, he allowed his attention to
wander slightly, picking up comments and conversations through
the room. It was considered a duty of the Blessed protector, not
an invasion of privacy. Any warning, hint of danger or trouble or
flash of insight that he gained through the eavesdropping would
be shared only with his king, as it had been with the queen
before him.
But tonight he succumbed to a less noble, slightly selfish
whim, and concentrated on the high court, wanting some comment on
their feelings about the night before.
The first he heard was a whisper from Cyn to Kim as they
watched the king shift again in his seat.
"Sir James certainly lived up to his reputation." Cyn said
with quiet humor, and Kim agreed with a laugh.
"I thought his reputation was for celibacy."
"He has had one or two dalliances since the king left for
St.Sebastian's. I think everyone knew who he was waiting for."
"What do you think will happen to them now?"
"He was wonderfully gentle." Lady Yvonne broke in with a
smile. "I don't think I've ever seen a more romantic first night,
not even for a marriage."
"The king was very brave. It was easy to see how frightened
he was."
"Such a beautiful man. Truly his mother's child."
"Bondings between the King and the Protector are often very
successful."
"You know they didn't leave the *room* until just before
this." Cyn gestured around the table.
"I would have liked to stay and see what else they did." the
women shared a naughty laugh.
The knight they discussed shifted again, quelling the smile
that threatened, eyes searching out the king's.
From across the room Blair looked up from his plate -- he
had been eating quietly, listening to the music and going over
his agenda for the next day -- and met James' look with a smile
of his own. A smile that made him look again like the boy he had
been. A smile that threatened to wipe away James' reserve and
reveal him for the love-struck fool he knew himself to be.
After the meal Blair began to settle into the library that
had been his mother's office. Memories of her, treasures gathered
in her travels, art and books she loved, surrounded him as he
worked.
He had just finished going over Naomi's long-term plans on
her 'screen', a wondrous one-of-a-kind magic item that sorted and
stored information when keys were pushed. It was the Wizard
Jackie Doubleu's greatest achievement and restricted to royalty.
There was a knock at the door and he called for entry, his voice
quieter than usual.
The kingdom Seneschal, Margie, stepped in and bowed
deferentially. He waved at her, hating that, and glanced at the
girl that stood beside her, eyes downcast.
"And who is this, Marge?" he put things on an informal
footing right away.
"Your highness, I've taken the liberty of choosing a page
for you. Although you have a research assistant, Emily Dee, you
will need someone to carry messages and fetch things as well.
This is Lady Thordis -- she is an orphaned child I have taken
into my home. She's smart and reliable and a hard worker."
Stepping from behind his desk Blair approached the young
woman, who curtsied before him with a bright smile.
"And how long will I have her before some young man drags
her off to marriage?" he teased and her smile widened.
"I believe a woman can perform her duties and still have a
happy marriage, your highness." she said cheerfully. "You don't
have to worry about losing me that way." now her smile was
mischievous.
"I can see you've thought this through." he held out his
hand, offering it and she shook it warmly. "I'm glad to take you
on, Lady Thordis. Your first assignment will be to deliver a
message to Sir James, wherever he is at the moment. Tell him to
come to my quarters whenever he is ready for sleep."
"Come to your quarters whenever he is ready for sleep." she
repeated, then giggled.
"What?" he watched as she blushed faintly and looked at the
floor before answering.
"Ready for sleep." she repeated with a snicker. "Do you have
a message for Lady Felice as well?"
Blair had to return her grin, although Margie was covering
her face and sighing.
"It's always good to anticipate me." Blair said, the humor
still in his voice. "But you'll have to watch your tongue around
others."
"I would never repeat your messages, your highness." every
trace of laughter was wiped from her face and she became very
serious. "I understand the importance of privacy."
"Then we'll get along fine. Find James and then return to me
-- I'll be in the castle somewhere, and then Katrina will arrange
for your quarters. I will speak with Lady Felice myself."
"Thank you, sir." with another bob of her skirt she was off,
trotting down the hall. Blair turned his attention to Margie.
"I hadn't even considered the need for a page, m'lady. thank
you for providing her."
"I hope it's not a mistake." the seneschal mumbled. "It's
about time for me to get home, your highness. I believe Katrina
needed to speak to you about tomorrow's festivities."
"If you see her, tell her I will be in the kitchen.
Otherwise I will send Thordis to find her."
"Very good, sir." she left his presence without bowing.
Thordis found him an hour later, sitting in his chair in the
kitchen going over menus with Denise.
"That'll work for me." he passed back the handwritten
sheets. "I don't mind having the same thing every week. Just
assume that I'll be eating in my quarters except on restdays and
feastdays."
"Shall I send enough for two every night, m'lord?"
He caught her smile and returned it.
"Unless you know ahead of time that Sir James will be out of
the city." he acknowledged her intuition.
"M'lord." Thordis skipped into the room and he stood to pour
her a glass of wine. "Sir James says that he will join you as
soon as he can. And Lady Katrina stopped me and asked that you
join her in the west wing if you have a moment."
"Thank you, Thordis. I'll see her on my way to my room. You
need to speak to her as well, so walk with me."
Sipping her wine she kept pace with him silently. He
appreciated her quiet. So often he felt the need to fill the air
with babble, but when around quiet people he could bite that back
and listen to his thoughts instead.
Currently all of those thoughts were centered on Sir James
and what he planned to try this night when they were together
...again he missed the freedom of monks' robes as his trousers
tightened across his stirring erection. He'd have to learn to
control or ignore that sensation, he decided.
They found Lady Katrina in the guest quarters of the west
wing, overseeing the final preparation of a large suite.
"Your highness." she greeted him with a bow. "I need your
approval on this arrangement for tomorrow. The Majestrix will
arrive early morn, and ambassadors from the rest of the empire
will probably start showing up any minute."
"For the coronation." Blair resisted the urge to smack
himself in the head. He'd been so caught up in the changes he'd
been experiencing that he hadn't thought ahead to the ceremony
the next night. Of course everyone who could be there would
be...including guests from the other kingdoms in the empire of
Fanfiklin.
"Who are we expecting?" he asked, dropping gracefully into a
chair, nodding with approval when Thordis took another near him.
She recognized that he might still need her.
Katrina counted them off on her fingers while Blair listened
patiently.
"The Ambassadors MacLeod from kingdom Highlander. Prince
Mulder and Princess Dana from Exfilia -- fortunately King Carter
won't be able to make it." she shared a smile with her king as
they both remembered the distracted king's recent problems with
his unhappy populace. "Constable Frasier of DuSuth. A
representative from StarHutch. There should be a group from each
of the federated kingdoms; D'Nine, NexGen, S'Trek and Voyagy. I
believe King LaCroix himself is coming, with his family
entourage." she paused and grimaced, the king giving her a
sympathetic look.
"Have we made preparations for feeding them?" the people of
LaCroix's land, the kingdom of Forever, far to the west, lived in
eternal darkness, practicing strange customs to retain their
unearthly powers. Though Blair knew it was an honor to have them
come -- especially the king himself -- he could've done without
it.
"Yes, your highness." Katrina nodded. "We have gathered
volunteers to provide for them, since your mother asked long ago
that they not bring their own."
On their last visit LaCroix's people had brought a small
group of what they called 'the herd', normal citizens who had
volunteered to support their ruling class. Remembering their pale
faces and listless movements, Blair knew he would continue his
mother's policy in this. He nodded at Katrina to continue.
"BelonFiv will send someone, as will Spabovyond. Prince Sam
himself will be coming from Quantumlee."
Blair smiled cheerfully. He certainly remembered Prince Sam
and his regent, Lord Al. They had visited several times when he
was younger and his mother had been quite friendly with Al.
"Are all the rooms ready, then?" he asked, standing.
"Yes, your highness. King LaCroix and his people will be put
in the tower, where they will have the privacy they require."
"It's not like they need to worry about the stairs, is it?"
he sighed. "They have stayed there before?"
"Yes, and taken no offense from it."
"Then that will do. Are all of the volunteers aware of what
will be required of them?"
She nodded again and he frowned.
"Are most of the volunteers castle staff?"
"No, your highness. I excluded the staff because we will be
needing them over the next few days and volunteering would put
them to bed for several days."
"Make certain all of them are properly compensated." he said
and she nodded again.
"Lady Margie will see to it."
He gestured toward Thordis.
"My page needs a room near mine. I'm sure there is already
one available with a connection to mine?"
"Yes." Katrina smiled and held out a hand to Thordis. "I
will show her to it."
"Then I'm to bed." he stood and stretched, hissing slightly
as he pulled muscles unused to their recent activity. "Thor, once
you are settled, please hunt down Lady Felice and tell her that I
do not wish her company tonight, and that I will speak to her on
the morrow."
With that he left his staff to finish the preparations. Lady
Katrina would doubtless work the night through, greeting guests
and getting them into rooms, but it was her job and she gloried
in it. If she grew tired she would call Lady Merry for an
insomniac potion, the only legal use of caffeine in the kingdom.
Lady Merry was the only one allowed to dispense it.
"Yes, your highness."
*****************************************************************
He had dozed off on top of the covers, waiting for James.
Feeling the sudden weight and warmth at his side he rolled over
and reached for the man he knew had entered the bed and pressed
against him urgently.
"Mmm. I was going to wait for you."
"A small problem among the guard." James whispered.
"Something I should know?" Lord Banks kept a tight rein on
his troops, mostly young men and women from poor backgrounds who
needed to help their families.
"It is dealt with." James rolled and pulled Blair on top of
him. Blair sat, straddling his lover's thighs, and rubbed them
together, with a soft groan. "I think I taught you too well."
James hissed as desire caught him.
"Tonight we'll find out." Blair grin was mischievous as he
slid down James' frame to suckle at his balls, causing the older
man to moan and spread his legs wide, hands sinking deep into the
king's hair to guide his movements.
Soon he was moaning steadily, upper body thrashing, and then
he pulled the king away from him by brute force, hauling him up
to his face, where he could kiss and hold him.
"I thought I was doing well." Blair protested when they
broke for air.
"Too well, beloved." Sir James chuckled and the feel of it
rumbling through his chest brought a smile to Blair's face as
well. "I want to come inside of you tonight."
"I would like that." Blair breathed, rolling off of him and
onto his side, offering his backside to the knight. James grasped
his waist and turned him to his back, kneeling between his legs
and pulling him closer.
"I want to watch you." he said softly. Blair's eyes grew
round and he reached to wrap his hands around James' forearms.
"Yessss..." he hissed, James pulled his hips onto the larger
man's thighs and tenderly entered him with a slick finger.
"Oh!" Blair rolled his head back and arched, hands gripping
James' arms fiercely. "It feels better every time..." he panted.
Insinuating a second finger, James manipulated Blair until
he was thrusting and panting and begging breathlessly.
"James...please James...want...want you...please..."
"If you're ready, my Blair." James said it like he would say
'my king'.
"More than ready....*Gila*, you're wonderful..."
With a slow, smooth thrust James entered him and held him
close, waiting for the initial shock to fade as he crooned to the
younger man, large hands stroking and soothing his chest, tracing
his face.
"You feel like heaven." he groaned louder. "My Blair....let
me...let me..."
"Anything, James! Anything!!" Blair began thrusting again
now, lifting his hips to drive James deeper into himself, biting
back the scream that threatened. "Anything you want!"
"I want to -- I *will* -- claim you....!" Surging up on his
knees James yanked Blair closer and began to pound into him, each
violent stroke banging his pelvis into Blair's ass, and the king
threw his head back and arched right off the bed as the scream
he'd smothered now escaped and he came and came and came, feeling
James pour into him after long minutes of that borderline pain,
that incredible ecstasy.
When he had recovered enough to speak James was still
collapsed on top of him, his own legs still wrapped securely
around his protector, arms clinging to him like he was life
itself.
"Every Blessed Protector belongs to a king." he whispered,
knowing well that James could hear him. "Few kings belong to
their protectors." he sighed and sweetly kissed James' neck,
tasting the salt and sweat and smoke there. "I am doubly
blessed."
