crown of sorrow

@ dezz

Amarille's cheeks flushed red at his teasing, looking down at her plate shyly before looking up at him through her eyelashes sheepishly, taking another bite of her apple slice. "But you're so tempting.." And what if I wanted to be tempted?" she murmured, slipping foot from her shoe to nudge his leg underneath the table, a little smile spreading across her lips before she looked away from him as she finished her salad. She hated that their wedding was so far away, that they had to follow the silly rules the council made up.

She looked up from her duck when he said how much he liked listening to her talk, blushing sheepishly. She shrugged at his question, taking a moment to finish her bite before answering. "I'm not sure.. I like everything the way it is. Obviously not the rotting and broken furniture, but I've never been fond of all the gold and silver that decorates the newer parts of the castle.. I like how simple it is."

---

Rainier ran his fingers through her hair gently, hoping to soothe her fears. "I'll do my best to stick nearby within reason.. Perhaps I can interupt your trip to the gardens?" He asked softly, hands resting lightly on her waist. His grip tightened as she stood on her toes however and told him she'd be bothering him until dinner, eagerly returning her kiss.

"I'll gladly have you bother me, Princess.." he murmured against her lips between kisses, pulling her flush against his chest. Kissing the beautiful princess behind a curtain where anyone could catch them was definitely a bit of a turn on for him, especially knowing that she loved him and wanted to marry him, and not that stuffy prince.

Caspian imagined there would be much temptation going on when they roamed the abandoned part of the castle again. It was just a primal urge the prince couldn't ignore whenever he was alone with the princess. She was stunning, a goddess sat before him and it was impossible to ignore just how much he loved her, the pull he felt towards her. He wanted her. Badly.

He had heard Amarille present her distaste for the architecture of the majority of the castle, hating the way it was painted and all of the golden embellishments. It truly looked like something out of a fairytale, and being from such a dull kingdom, it was truly a sight to behold. The prince couldn't understand, but he'd change it all if he asked her to. "Well, I'll just make sure it all gets polished then." There was beauty in preserving in the past and he would do his best for her.

After they finished with their lunch, Caspian guided Amarille up, linking their arms together. "Do you want us to lock ourselves away in your favorite room until dinner?" The prince teased, pressing a kiss to her forehead, "or shall we enjoy a walk through the gardens?"

---

His kisses managed to put the princess in a better mood, as if by magic. Isolde couldn't help but smile and giggle as Rainier kissed her, feeling his fingers gripping her sides tightly. The princess let her hands push under his jacket, her fingers exploring the soft fabric of the vest he wore underneath. She wondered how much trouble they would get in if the pair of them were caught right now, tangled up in one another behind a curtain.

Isolde kissed him back, pressing a soft kiss to lips last, before pulling away, her hands still holding the fabric of his shirt. "This isn't the safest place for this," Isolde blushed, her hands creeping up his chest as she fought the urge to kiss to him again.

@ katahdin

@ dezz

Amarille offered him a warm smile as he said he'd have everything polished, shaking her head. "It's not just about what I want, Caspian.. You're going to be King, this is going to be your home, where we live and rule the kingdom. You ought to have some rooms that are to your liking." She loved him for wanting to please her, but she worried that if he spent all his time focused on her, he'd grow unhappy because he neglected himself and his wants.

Once lunch was finished she linked her arm through his as he led her away from the courtyard, cheeks flushing red at his question, although she smiled up at him when he kissed her forehead. "Hmm.. Depends. Where will I get to kiss you the most?" She asked teasingly, standing on her toes to press a gentle kiss to his lips.

---

Rainier groaned softly as her hands moved against his chest, ready to hike her skirt up and tug his trousers down enough to take her right here behind the curtain, risks be damned. He paused his kisses when she drew back, however, holding onto her hips as he kept her close, resting his forehead against hers as he caught his breath.

"I suppose you're right.. Should I let you go back to your room to rest until dinner?" He asked softly as he played with her hair, curling a strand around his fingers for a moment before he moved back, giving more space between them.

Caspian didn't much care for the material things. What a room looked like to him wouldn't bring him happiness, so he could only laugh and shake his head when Amarille tried to argue with him, to force him to make a decision about their home. All he cared about, at the moment, was making sure their wedding went to plan and he had a happy wife.

Smiling against her lips, Caspian gently kissed her back, his arm linking with hers as he pulled her away from the table. "You can kiss me as much as you'd like in either place," he laughed, but decided to lead them back towards the castle. "I think I'd prefer to go inside, head to that wing of the castle and hear you talk a bit more about all of it." Caspian straightened his posture, keeping his head forward as they passed a few nobles on the way inside. The prince nodded towards a few guards, his arm slowly slipping away from hers, but only to wrap around her waist instead.

The prince remembered some changes he did want to make. Some that would make him happy, like ridding away stupid old rules and replacing members on the court with perhaps, happier, younger men. Not the old men who were all sitting around a table making miserable decisions.

---

"That doesn't much sound like bothering you," Isolde teased, pressing her body against him still. "Unless, you escort me and then hide away inside with me?" The princess couldn't keep her hands off of him, a small part of her terrified that they would be torn apart, that this could be the last time they could hold and kiss each other, and if it wasn't the last, what if they were numbered?

"Or are you a busy man?" She teased, her hand trailing up the front of his shirt, "I could bring you some tea to your office and ...watch you work?" Anything, Isolde didn't care. If he wanted to continue what they were doing now, somewhere safer or if would just allow her to hang around him, like a little shadow. She would watch him boringly shift through papers, or listen to him talk to the other vultures, or perhaps something more fun... She would love to watch him do some magic. "Don't send me off to my room, alone, Rainier," she pouted. She knew if she left him now and headed up to her room, or even out, her mind would be plagued with worries over what was to come after dinner.

@ katahdin

@ dezz

Amarille only giggled as he wrapped his arm around her waist, leaning into his arms as he led her away from the courtyard and toward the old wing of the castle. She was glad that he seemed interested in it, and wasn't very demanding about what he wanted, although she knew he had to have some things that he'd want to do as king. "I don't really know what more to say about it, other than all of the things that you could read in one of the history books.. I don't want to bore you." She teased softly, resting her head against his arm as they walked. She was looking forward to being married to him. She'd always been afraid and worried about her marriage, having always assumed it would be to some awful man who didn't really love or care for her, only the title he'd gain from marrying her. So to say she was relieved to be marrying Caspian was an understatement.

Once in the older wing of the castle she paused, tugging two keys from her pocket, holding one out sheepishly to Caspian, her cheeks flushed red. "For you.. I know it's not our room yet, but I figured you deserve to have a key to it now." She murmured softly, pressing it into his hand.

---

Rainier groaned softly as she pressed her body to his, his cock hardening in his trousers. He pressed a deep kiss to her lips, hands resting on her hips as he took her in. "Whatever you want, Princess.. I aim to please." He smirked, leaning down to press another kiss to her lips before trailing kisses along her jaw and neck. He knew there was a risk in them getting caught here, but he wasn't ready to let her go, even to move somewhere private for them to continue whatever it was they were doing.

He was hesitant to go too far with her, not wanting to pressure her into anything, and not wanting her to get ahead of herself, in case she was mistaken about her feelings for him. Besides, getting her pregnant when they weren't yet on the throne didn't make any sense strategically.

Caspian glanced down at the antique bronze key Amarille had pressed into his hand and felt a sudden sense of calm wash over him. Just the night before she had been ready to call off the wedding and while he had done a swell job of keeping a level head, he still had some fears and this gesture helped lay a few to rest. "Thank you, my love." The prince looked up at Amarille, a smile growing on his face as he leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead.

Hiding the key away in his jacket pocket, Caspian took Amarille's hand as he took a better look around the old wing, especially now that they were out in the hall and he had time to explore. "Did you spend time here often as a child?" He assumed that had a part to play in why she adored the old corridor so much. The room held significance of course, but perhaps she held other cherished memories within the walls of this wing.

---

"Rainier," Isolde giggled, wrapping her arms around him again as his lips trailed kisses down her neck. This was a new side to him she hadn't seen yet, a much more touchy side and she liked it. Still, the last thing she wanted was to get caught, especially when she had a suitor in the castle. But worse, she didn't want to deal with her sister if she found out she had been all wrapped up with Rainier in the hallway.

"Get out of this curtain," she laughed, pushing him away gently before she turned away from him. Isolde peeked out from behind the curtain to make sure it was empty, before she pushed it away from the two of them. Looking back over at Rainier, his face slightly red, she couldn't help but make the decision for them. "Well, show me to my room, Adviser Irving." She motioned for him to lead the way, a smirk playing on her face.

@ katahdin

@ dezz

Amarille returned Caspian's smile, smoothing her hands over his jacket before she laced her fingers through his, following him through the halls of the abandoned wing of the castle. "Isolde and I would sometimes play hide and seek when we were little.. But once I had to start taking my lessons more seriously, I would come here to get away from my tutors, or to hide from Isolde when she tried to insist that I sneak out with her.. Not that I don't like her, or spending time with her, but she'd always drag me along to things I didn't like, like the market on the most crowded day of the year, or festivals with hundreds of people attending. I had fun, but I was always terribly anxious and nervous, and never really got to properly enjoy myself." She murmured holding onto his arm as they walked.

She pointed out the different rooms she'd mentioned earlier; the spare bedrooms, the studies, the library, showing him inside the ones with unlocked doors, while promising to find the keys to the ones they were locked later. "I know it's all a mess now, but I'm sure it would look nicer once everything was tidied up."

---

Rainier huffed in irritation as she pushed him back, having the sense to straighten his jacket and shirt before following her out from behind the curtain. He smirked a little when she asked him to escort her back to her room, bowing formally before extending his arm to her. "It would be my pleasure, your highness." He said smoothly, waiting until she'd taken his arm before he began to lead her through the halls to her bedroom. He didn't rush, but he also wasn't taking his time in getting them there, knowing that the sooner they were behind closed doors the sooner he could feel her lips against his again, feel her soft body beneath his hands.

"How shall I entertain you this afternoon, Princess?" He asked as they neared her room, glancing down at her with a little smirk.

Caspian felt a frown pulling at his face as he listened to Amarille talk. He gently patted her hand, "I'm sure your sister just thinks you'd like a break from your responsibilities. It's clear she adores you," he tried to cheer her up as they moved through the hall. "And I'm sure she had to use the busiest days for the kingdom as cover. It not necessarily allowed, sneaking out, that is." He teased, however, he did feel Isolde would end up getting herself in some very big trouble one day.

Standing in the dusty library, Caspian slowly pulled his arm away from Amarille, just so he could explore around the shelves on his own. "It seems like a lot of work, but if we get enough hands to help, this wing will be back to life before you know it." The fair prince was beginning to feel the weight on his shoulders. He wanted to do right by Amarille and the kingdom, he wanted to restore this wing for her and relax the rules of the kingdom so Amarille could feel like she could breathe and Isolde could come and go if she wanted, but what if he failed?

---

It was so strange to Isolde how just mere moments before she had been on the verge of tears, thinking about how if she snuck out of the castle and ran away, she wouldn't have to entertain the prince who had found his way into her home. But, now, how much time had passed with Rainier and she couldn't wipe the smile from her face if she wanted to, the prince hadn't even crossed her mind. She linked her arm with his as they walked through the halls, heading towards her bedroom, where once they were again hidden, she hoped she could steal more kisses.

"I have a few things in mind," Isolde teased, her own smirk appearing when they finally reached her room. Opening the door, she was quick to slip inside, pulling Rainier in by the hand behind her. The door clicked shut, and Isolde turned to face the adviser, a playful look on her face.

@ katahdin

@ dezz

Amarille stood by the old shelves in the library while she listened to him speak, giving a little nod. "I know.. But whenever I suggested we do something she'd ignore me and insist on something else.. I know that she loves me, and I love her, I just.. I just wish she understood.." she sighed, following him as he moved around the room. She perked up when he mentioned cleaning up the wing, nodding a little as she smiled over at him.

"It really shouldn't take too much work.. Most of the rooms don't even have to be renovated on time, just the bedroom and whatever room you choose to take as a study." She explained softly, smoothing her hands over his jacket to smooth out the wrinkles. "If it's too much work, we can just choose a room in the east wing. It'll be easier, less work for everyone."

---

Once inside Isolde's room Rainier was quick to scoop the princess into her arms, kissing her deeply as he held her close. He wasn't going to do too much with her, worried of them getting caught, even in the safety of her room. But he was going to take advantage of their alone time to kiss her as much as he could. He hated the idea of her marrying that prince, of her with any other man. It made his blood boil.

He released her after a moment, carefully setting her down by her bed. "What were you thinking?"

Caspian shook his head when the princess mentioned maybe only picking one room in the wing to renovate. It would be less work and then she could still sleep every night in her favorite part of the castle, but that wasn't good enough for Caspian. He wanted her to have everything she wanted and he knew bringing the whole wing back to life would be the best wedding gift he could give her. "I don't care how much work it will be. I'll help myself if I have to, to get it done." The prince assured her, moving back so that he could take her hands in his again. "You deserve it."

---

Isolde looked up at Rainier as he gently sat her down on her bed. She knew that they couldn't go too far, that what they were doing now was already distasteful enough, seeing as she had a suitor in the palace. Isolde still couldn't help but want to kiss him and explore every part of him. "Well," she sighed, pretending to be upset, "I know we can't go too far, but," she raised to her feet once more, standing directly in front of him. The princess reached up and pushed his jacket down off of his shoulders until it hit the floor. Then, her fingers began to loosen the buttons on his shirt. "I want to go as far as we can."

@ katahdin

@ dezz

Anfrih's eyes softened as he spoke, giving his hands a gentle squeeze as she gazed up at him adoringly. "I'm not sure I deserve you.. And if I don't deserve you, then I certainly don't deserve to have this wing restored." She smiled, standing on her toes to press a loving kiss to his lips. "Thank you, Caspian.. We can talk to the council members at dinner, see if they'd be willing to hire some men to clean this wing up. I'm sure they wouldn't refuse." She said before tugging him back toward the door. "Come on, we should head back to our rooms, I'm feeling a bit tired, and would like you to keep me company while I rest."

---

Rainier watched as Isolde stood, allowing her to push off his jacket and start to unbutton his shirt, his hands moving to her waist. "Princess.. Isolde, are you sure?" He asked, brushing his fingers through her hair. "I don't want to take advantage of you. And I certainly don't want to get caught either. Then we'd both be in trouble, me especially." He said, hands brushing up and down her waist before he reached behind her to begin to undo her corset.