The King`s Royal Chamber (Jenna, Edeline)

[stephan]

The night had fallen upon the land of Nevarra and even though its capital truly never slept, it was at least very quiet in the royal palace that current night. Most of those who lived in the palace was either preparing for bed or had already gone to sleep, but in the uppermost chambers of the palace where the King had his room, some loud noises could be heard throughout the hallway where the guards stood attentive on watch. It was suspicious, but the guards did not ask any questions regarding the matter as they had seen who had recently visited the king.

Stephan had taken an early night that day and it was firmly known among his servants and guards that he had problems falling asleep, and that he often called on his trusted friend Jenna rather than his wife, most due to his paranoia, as he did not fully trust everybody with his problems. As the night grew more and more late, the noise which came from the King`s room were getting louder and louder, until it reached its climax and then it went silent, as if nothing had happened. Either the King was having a heated discussion with Jenna or obviously the two of them had done something else.

With the bed covers lying over the bodies of Stephan and Jenna, the king quickly removed it to get some fresh air after intense moment. Happily he smiled at his friend and laughed with her as he placed his hands back behind his head, relaxing and laying close to the woman he so much enjoyed. He knew she did not have any strong feelings for him as he did for her, but at least she was a good friend and she was amazing at taking care of him. “Oh my…that was, amazing!” He said in a pleased voice as he tried to catch his breath after what had happened, and then he turned to look at Jenna with a bright smile, looking into her eyes as he carefully lifted her chin up.

[jenna]

Jenna had never and would never love a woman the way she loved Stephan, but she felt no attraction to him however hard she tried. And Maker's balls did she try. She knew how he felt about her, knew he may well have married her if he hadn't known her preference for women, and most importantly knew how much it hurt him that she didn't return his feelings. Causing him pain, any pain, tore through her in a way she couldn't describe but she could give him this. She knew how he liked to be touched and where, as familiar with the planes of his body as she was with her own and it comforted him. Maker help her she was the king's mistress, but she made him feel safe in a way no one else did and if she could give him that her honor was a small sacrifice.

Smiling at Stephan as he lifted her chin, she kissed his nose and gathered him to her chest. Even small and frail as he was he was always so careful when he touched her, as though she might break or vanish into the air. Perhaps even both. When they were young he was always so timid, seemingly afraid that she'd decide he wasn't worth her time, and after... Well, the tournament where they'd had their reunion had ended with her spending a very great deal of time recovering from an explosion in the stands that left her with more scars than skin.

"You should try to rest now Stephan. Tomorrow will be long with planning the tourney and your illness drains enough of your strength without you losing sleep." Smiling softly at him, Jenna smoothed back his sex-mussed hair and pillowed his head on her chest. "Would you like me to stay again tonight, in case the nightmares come?"

The nightmares... Jenna's hold around Stephan tightened fractionally and she dropped another kiss on the top of his head. Even she couldn't protect him from them but by the Maker she could comfort him when he woke.

[reihotd]

I was a rare occasion that Edeline ventured to the Kings chambers on her own. Usually he would invite her, or someone would send word that the King wished to see her, but tonight was different. Lina had not been able to sleep, as much as she tried, and loneliness had finally set in. She knew it was a terrible idea to interrupt Stephan at night, but she was sure that even if she angered him, their relationship would not change. Lina knew that Stephan loved her, and she loved him with an undying passion, but she could no longer feel the connection they had when they first met. Maybe it was that she had expected something different, or that she just longed to be in his arms so bad that her emotions tried to take her over. He was always sweet to her, and when they did spend a night together it was wonderful, but those nights were less and less lately and Lina grew concerned.

She was still making her decision whether or not to visit as she walked down the hall to his chamber. She was still in her night ware and her feel were bare. She wore a white gown made of soft, delicate materials, covered by a matching robe that was almost sheer. The robe tied beneath her breasts with a silken ribbon made into a little bow. Her hair was down and freshly brushed. The long golden locks flowed over her shoulders and neck, almost touching her waist. She stepped very lightly afraid that Stephan would already be asleep, and she would wake him. But as she grew closer she heard several noises that she could not qute make out, but she dread to thing what they could be.

As she stepped to the door the noises had already stopped. Lina’s hands trembled and she had to take in a few deep breaths as she just stared at the door. She must have looked insane to anyone else in the palace, but it was late and there were luckily few people around. She finally mustered up the spirit and did it….

Thud…Thud…

She knocked firmly on the chamber door. She did not know what to expect, but braced herself to hold back tears from the various outcomes that came to mind.

[stephan]

Being in bed with the woman Stephan had loved since he was a teenager, was both pleasant and comfortable, like a dream come true. Jenna meant everything to him and had it not been that she rather preferred woman instead of men, he would have married her a long time ago and made her his queen. However fate had put them on a different path, where Stephan had rather found love in another and married, but still shared a close friendship to Jenna, a friendship most appreciated. He knew Jenna would never love him the way he loved her, but she sure cared for him and would do everything to please him. Whenever he needed her, she was always there for him, either as a Captain of the guard or his mistress.

As she kissed him, he smiled of satisfaction and he remained close as he listened to the words she spoke. The moment they had just shared had been an amazing experience and he now found himself exhausted by it all, but still wanted more. Looking into her eyes made his heart beat faster and he felt so lucky to have a woman like her, she made him feel loved in ways others did not and he knew he could trust her, as she had proved to be a reliable person. With a nod and a pleased look, he replied whispering as he trailed a random pattern on her shoulder. “Yes stay with me tonight, you know I like it when you watch over me…” He said with a broad smile, relaxing just as he heard a knock on the door.

Who could it be who knocked on the King`s door this late, Stephan thought as he was surprised by the sudden knock. He had not summoned anyone to his chamber except Jenna and few had access to the upper floor of the Nevarran Palace, except his mother and wife, which meant it could only be one of them. Quickly Stephan stood up from bed and told Jenna to hide in the closet, not wanting anyone to know about their affair. If anyone got the news of what the King was doing, an infamous scandal could spread the land and destroy the reputation of the royal family, which could be dangerous.

Once he stood he took the bed covers around him and with a few careful steps he walked toward the door, looking around once more to secure everything was safe for him to open up. Then as Jenna had hid herself in the closet, he twisted the door handle and slowly he opened the door ajar, showing only his head around the corner of the door as he held tight onto the bed covers that he had around his waist. “Oh, Edeline.” Stephan said dazzled and shocked, not really knowing what to say, but tried to remain calm. “What you doing here this late, you know I had to take an early night after all the things that happened today.” He continued as he smiled back at her, not wanting to reveal anything of what had just happened, even he showed sign that he was still breathing heavily and had a fuzzed hair.

[jenna]

She should have known - he always wanted her to stay. Good. She held him a bit tighter, gently brushing some hair out of his face as the tension melted out of his shoulders. It was good to feel - Stephan was always under so much pressure, he never seemed to relax except when they were alone. It was... humbling, to know he trusted her so much - no one else, not even his wife, could make him feel safe enough to really relax.

But all the tension came rushing back, knotting up in Stephan's shoulders as someone knocked on the door. Jenna frowned, slipping quietly off the bed and gathering her things to hide in the closet even before Stephan asked her. An old habit of anticipation born of long acquaintance and fierce friendship, and a useful one. She Nodded at Stephan when he glanced back at her to make sure she was hidden, and shut the door.

Stephan was opening the door now, and Jenna prayed that she hadn't forgotten anything. But he said a name... Edeline. Jenna pressed her hand to her mouth to stop the strangled cry that wanted to come. Why did it have to be her? All Jenna's guilt came bubbling up - not for her lost honor, but for the pain the lady queen would feel if she found out. Stephan's well-being was the only price she wouldn't pay to spare Edeline - no, damn it, the queen - from that pain. It was almost more than she could bear.

She wanted to burst out of the closet, to run away, to throw herself at the queen's feet and beg forgiveness, to disappear from all Thedas... She wanted anything other that this... this cage, being locked in a closet, helpless, useless, guilty. Instead, she curled up smaller in her tiny prison and put her head on her knees, trembling.

[reihotd]

After she knocked there were a few sounds of scuffling around in the room. I must have woken him Lina thought nervously. As the door opened, she could only see Stephan’s face as he peered around the corner. He must be nervous about the latest situation she thought this time. ”Oh Edeline. What are you doing here this late, you know I had to take an early night after all the things that happened today.” Stephan said from behind the door. Lina immediately felt horrible. She clutched at the sides of her smooth white gown as she looked down and blushed. A few strands of hair fell in front of her face as she moved her head. ”I am so sorry dear husband. I did not mean to disturb you, but I could not help myself. The only thing I can dream of lately is you, and it made me feel lonely and miss you dearly. Please forgive me for putting this burden on you so late at night.” She spoke only truth. She missed her king dearly and only wished to see him alright. What she didn’t mention was that the dreams she had about him were nightmares that made her clutch at the sheets looking for his figure. The emptiness in her bed only weighed heavily on her heart as a feather turned into a rock.

She saw that his hair was a bit messed and there was some sweat still on his neck. He must have had a nightmare she kept in her head. It seemed, even to herself, that she was reaching deeply for answers to the strange events of this night. But she would not jump to conclusions. ”Husband, have you been unwell in your sleep? Would you like me to join you? Or may I call upon Miss Jenna to provide you with some more security?” Edeline was aware that, of all people, Stephan’s childhood friend Jenna made him feel safest. This did not bother Edeline, for she just wanted him to be happy.

[stephan]

As Stephan hid behind the door as he listened to what his wife Edeline spoke, he began to feel guilty for what he just had done behind her back and it worried him that she would see signs that something had happened. Edeline was a sweet and innocent woman and knew nothing of what Stephan had done for years, yet should she found out he had been unfaithful then he did not know how she would react, would she forgive him or would she simply leave him? The most obvious option were that she would leave if she found clues that he had betrayed her, but Stephan hoped she would not, because he loved Edeline, almost just as much he loved Jenna. Always when he was troubled, Jenna and Edeline supported him and he was happy to have them both, though if he lost them then his life would forever be ruined and in danger.

Standing speechless, Stephan tried to think of what to reply as he looked around to see if there again was something he had missed to remove, then he noticed something lying on the floor. It was a piece of Jenna`s underwear and it was visible close to the bed, at the same time without knowing it Stephan had a mark on his neck, that showed sign that someone had been sucking on his skin. Rubbing his head unknown about it he smiled gently back at Edeline as he tried to keep the door as much closed as possible, answering with a calm voice, hoping she would leave. “Oh eh, my dear wife… there is nothing to forgive, I am glad you came, but I am alright. There is no need to call for Jenna, I am sure she has other things to worry about…”

(Edeline should force herself in, in the next post.)