Reluctant Hearts (accepting different titles)

Chapter 3 - Acquaintance

Damon led a still slightly miffed princess through the halls of the living quarters. Despite his father’s warning he took the younger woman directly to his room anyway. After all he was 30 and could probably start ignoring some of his father’s rules. He smiled down at her and opened his door, guiding her gently in.

Oriana’s eyes flew wide at the sight of a huge four poster bed, clearly marking this room as someone’s bedchamber and from the male related items lying about, probably his bedchamber. “Prince Damon! What on earth are we doing in your room? This can’t be proper.”

He chuckled and led her to a plush chair near the window and pushing her into it before sitting in its mate. “It may not be entirely proper, but it is preferable. I never know what servants are about, listening to us day to day. I have found that my room is relatively safe since the door is the only entrance and it is fairly thick. I don’t particularly want word of our possible marriage getting out too soon. This affair is rather important and I don’t think we want anyone trying to stop it before it can happen.”

She smiled slightly and relaxed slowly back into her chair, “Very well. Just don’t let the environment overtake you. Keep your hands to your self Your Highness.”

He laughed, “I’ll endeavor to control my wild passions and not inflict myself upon your person.”

She laughed and then sighed, wrinkling her nose, “It sounds so horrible when you put it like that, like a disease or a rash.”

He smiled softly and shrugged, “It’s really not horrible, but that’s a discussion for later I think. For the moment let’s get to know each other in more general terms.”

She smiled and nodded, “Yes I think that would be a wonderful idea. Perhaps our marriage would be easier if we’re at least friends.” She sat back and thought a moment, “Let’s see what I already know about you. You’re 30, I believe, quite well know for your swordsmanship, heir to the Treston thrown…hmm…that’s all I know I think.”

He sat forward in his chair, “All of that is correct. I also have three siblings, Katherine is just younger than me. She was married to a border lord, but he passed away a month ago. Georgiana and Benjamin are only 16, twins, and were quite unexpected after twelve years of no births I might add.” She smiled and waved for him to continue. “I suppose I also consider Samuel as a brother of sorts. He has been my best friend for 20 years, ever since his father sent him here, so I can’t imagine loving a brother any more dearly.” He smiled and shrugged, “Anyway, I have general duties that I must attend to each day, much like you, I’m sure. In my spare time, I spar with Samuel or we go to the local taverns. I also ride my horse daily and…” he stopped and flushed a little.

“And?” Oriana prodded curiously. He seemed like a nice enough man so far, how bad could it be?”

He sighed, “I like to carve things into wood or sometimes I paint and sketch. It’s all very manly I know.”

She grinned and chuckled a little at that, “So the warrior is human after all. I think it’s nice that you have a little nonviolent or alcohol related activity in your life, it makes you rather normal I think. To tell you the truth I have a bit of a weakness for reading and embroidery. It lets my mind relax, much like your art likely does for you I would imagine.”

He laughed, “I can’t imagine someone of your reputed liveliness and fire sitting still long enough for such activities. You seem to have so much energy right at the surface just waiting to escape.”

She shrugged and smiled, “We all have our little quirks I suppose.” She sat back and thought a moment before speaking. She supposed that they wouldn’t learn everything about each other today, so the basics would do. “I am an only child, as everyone seems to know. I do however consider Aria, Isaac and Indra as siblings of sorts. Let’s see Aria is just 20 and Indra is 18. Both have been with me off and on for about 10 years. They were my play companions in the summer, when I was a child, and eventually developed into my personal handmaidens a few years ago. Both are the youngest daughters of merchants so their lives have turned out rather better then expected I suppose. It is likely that Indra will eventually marry Isaac, who is the son of one of our common border lords, Lord Jeston. They’re both completely smitten with each other but neither will admit it to the other. It’s rather sweet really.” She sighed and frowned a little. “I hope we may grow to love each other some day Damon. A life without love is so very sad, don’t you think? So many of our station go without it or find it with someone other than their spouse.”

He reached forward and took her hand. He kissed her knuckles gently and looked up into her eyes, “I honestly can’t promise anything, but I will join you in the hope that we may find love with each other. I think we have the potential to at least become very good friends, don’t you?”

She squeezed his fingers briefly before drawing her hand away, “I believe so. Perhaps we will leave it at that for the moment. Let us strive to be friends first and lovers later.”

“Agreed,” he said grinning and leaning forward, “Does this mean we should make our fathers happy and marry Oriana…may I call you Oriana?”

“Yes of course, you will be my husband shortly and my dear friends do call me Oriana or Ana,” she grinned, relieved that Damon seemed so level-headed and was handsome to boot. She laughed lightly, “I think this means that our families may begin the negotiations for our engagement. Let’s say that we give it a few months at least. We’ll visit each other when we can and see what happens,” she said standing.

He stood and grabbed her hands, “You’ve only just arrived here. You shouldn’t leave so soon after the two of us meeting. Stay here for a while…a month, then I’ll travel to your home and we’ll spend time there. It’ll give us a chance to learn more about each other and our respective countries. You can perform my duties with me even,” he finished as though it would be a treat for her, though the glint in his eyes told her he was teasing.

She considered his proposal, tilting her head thoughtfully, “Does this mean you’ll join me and the other ladies in repairing clothing and weaving cloth as well? We have quite a lot of it to get finished before winter sets in you know.”

He laughed and kissed her hand again, “If I must I will even learn to scrub iron kettles and embroider daisies on bed sheets.” Damon smiled when she laughed happily at the thought of him bent over a tub of dishes. “Do you agree to stay? I could send a man tonight to request the items you might need.” He looked down into her amused, lovely face and prayed she would say yes. Damon knew that she was something very special that he desperately needed to understand.

He looked so sweet and hopeful she couldn’t refuse. “Very well, my mother will know what I need. You may send your messenger.” She smiled at his wide grin. Oriana knew that she at least had found a new very good friend. Maybe that in it self would be enough for her heart. How bad could it be to be friends with one’s spouse, even if love never really developed? She hooked her arm around his arm again and flashed him a cheeky grin, “Let’s go break the news.”

“Alright, and then I’ll take you to your rooms. They should be prepared for you by now, as should a bath,” he said plucking at her wild mass of curls. She snorted and he could have sworn her heard her mutter “Bastard.” Grinning he led her down the hall to the room where they’d abandoned their fathers. This was shaping up to be a very fine relationship indeed. He couldn’t wait to get to know the fiery little female even better, and for once sex had nothing to do with it.

***

Their fathers hadn’t really been surprised by their surrender, but they’d been happy none-the-less. The two had immediately set to work on their plans and shooed the two out after agreeing that Oriana would stay a while in Treston. Shaking their heads, the two left the library and headed back down the halls of the living quarters.

As they approached the rooms where she would be staying a rather curious scene unfolded before them, involving Oriana’s three charges and Damon’s rather flirtatious manservant. Damon rolled his eyes as Samuel bowed rather elegantly to the two ladies and kissed their hands, thoroughly ruffling Isaac’s feathers. It wasn’t really all that difficult to ascertain who the boy was, since he turned a rather interesting shade of purple as Samuel kissed the younger maid’s hand a bit too long. He straitened and smirked down at Isaac who had yet to clear 5’8”, while Sam stood just over 6’2”. Isaac bristled and grabbed the younger woman, pulling her against his side, clearly unaware at how loudly he was announcing his feelings to the young woman.

Oriana smiled slightly as Indra’s eyes flew wide as Isaac pulled her tight into his side. The move was so possessive she couldn’t dismiss it as being a simple feeling of protectiveness over the women. After all he hadn’t done the same with Aria.

“Ah is she yours little pup? I apologize, I didn’t mean to poach on your territory,” Samuel said silkily, turning his gaze on Aria. Isaac growled and stiffened. The situation was getting rather out of hand and the two decided to step forward.

“Sam!” Damon barked. “That is quite enough. Don’t tease the young ladies so soon after their arrival.”

Sam’s face shifted from seductive to cheerful so quickly Oriana blinked. What a strange man he seemed to be. “I assume this is the Samuel you were referring to earlier?” she asked softly. He nodded and she stepped forward, hand extended to the other man. “I’m Oriana of Alberia Samuel. Nice to meet you.”

“Samuel? Only my mother called me that,” he said laughing and kissing her hand.

“Then I’ll continue the practice I think,” she countered smiling. “Do keep your hands off my maids. I want to keep them untouched for their husbands if you don’t mind.”

He simply grinned and shrugged. Samuel turned to the group of young people and smiled, “I apologize for unsettling any of you.” He sent the two young women a disarming grin. Both blushed and giggled a little, only infuriating poor Isaac all the more. “I can’t help myself when there are lovely young ladies present.”

And the young women were indeed lovely, no one would be able to dispute that. Indra was fair and blond, almost startling in her paleness. Her fair hair was typically worn lose, falling in soft, light curls around her tiny waist. Equally startling were her icy blue eyes. Her gaze had inspired more then one poorly composed, drunken poem. The songs were even worse. She was smaller then Oriana, only a bit over five feet.

Aria was the exact opposite of her companion. Her skin was a light tan, deepened by her frequent excursions into the sun. Her chocolate hair fell nearly to her knees when unbound, but she kept it contained in two long braids, preferring to keep it out of the way for possible battles. She had an equally unnerving gazing, primarily because those deep brown, almond shaped eyes seemed to look right into a man and draw out his secrets. Where Indra was tiny and slim, Aria was tall, nearly 5’7”, and rather lush. Hard work had given both rather well toned forms, but Aria had filled out in ways that drew the attention of far too many men.

Oriana knew that she needed to find a husband for the girl soon to at least protect her from other men. She couldn’t help but give Samuel an assessing look. He probably wasn’t wealthy by any means, but he was handsome and seemed kind enough. “Samuel are you married by chance?”

Sam looked at her in horror, “Of course not. One woman for the rest of my life?” He shuddered, “No thank you Your Highness.”

“What’s wrong with just one woman?” Damon asked drawing Oriana against his side. Oriana grinned at the startled man.

Samuel’s mouth worked a moment, then managed a strangled question, “You’re getting married? Whatever for?” He glanced at Oriana and flushed lightly, “No offense to you Your Highness.”

Damon sighed and smiled at Samuel, “Unlike you, some of us have to provide heir to a kingdom or two. We have duties to perform for our countries. Oriana and I will marry in a few months if we decided we are compatible. In the mean time, she will stay here for a while so we can all get to know her.”

Indra disengaged herself from a rather panicked looking Isaac, who’d just begun realized his admission. “Oriana, Your Highness, will we be staying here with you as well?”

Aria frowned and nodded, “We couldn’t leave you here without proper chaperones.” Oriana had a sneaking feeling, from the looks Aria was leveling on Samuel, Oriana’s virtue wasn’t one of her chief concerns.

“You will stay here with me, of course. Report to the housekeeper tomorrow and see if she needs any assistance that you might provide. You will also be expected to continue your training with me in the mornings, so make that clear to her as well. Isaac, you will also join us in the morning, but I want you to report to the chief guardsman for duties,” Oriana said in a tone that brooked no arguments. The three looked a bit deflated at the loss of a vacation, but nodded anyway. “Samuel, I hope I can depend on you to show Isaac to the appropriate person for duties tomorrow?”

Samuel grinned, recovering almost instantly from his previous shock, and patted the younger man on the back, “Of course. Besides I have some apologizing to do for trespassing onto his territory.” Isaac’s face flare and he covered his eyes with one hand. Sam looked at the red young man and then at the prettily blushing blond girl and rolled his eyes. “She didn’t know yet did she?” Isaac shook his head and refused to look at the object of his desire, who simply stared at him wide-eyed. “Ah, I’m sorry I opened my mouth then. Let me make it up to you. I’ll buy you a drink.” Isaac threw Oriana a mortified look and followed the grinning older man.

Oriana frowned softly, “Poor Isaac. I doubt that fit anywhere into his plans for declaring his love.” Damon snorted and shook his head at the often troublesome mouth of his best friend. Oriana turned to the young women and sighed, “Well that was interesting. Indra, you and I will chat later tonight I think. Apparently we need to work a few issues out. Aria I also need to have a little chat with you about the invitations your are trying to send to Samuel.” Aria tried to look innocent but in the end just blushed and glanced away. Damon chuckled softly and suggested that they continue on towards her room a little ways down the hall. Aria and Indra ducked into their own room, giggling at the events of the afternoon.

Damon opened her door for her and followed her in at her wave. To her immense relief a bath was indeed steaming behind a tall screen in the corner of the room. “Oh that looks so very lovely,” she sighed longingly.

“Let me leave you to your bath then. We can finish our chat later,” he said with a friendly smile. “Unless, of course, you need someone to scrub your back for you. I’m very good at that sort of thing.”

She laughed and shook her head, “I have no doubt. You go sit over in that chair by the window and no peeking. I want to keep our conversation going, but I dearly need a bath.”

His eyes widened slightly and his brows rose, but he obeyed her and sat in the indicated chair. What a funny little female he had in his life now. They’d only known each other for a few hours and now he was sitting in her bed chamber while she bathed? He shook his head and hoped that King Henry wasn’t a violent man.

Oriana stepped behind the screen and with considerable relief peeled week old riding clothes from her body, leaving them in a pile near the tub. She stepped into the steaming water with a hiss. Sinking down into the water she smiled and groaned, “Oh gods this feels good.”

On the other side of the screen Damon actually felt himself blush and shifted in his chair. Her moan of contentment was just a little too close to that of a female sighing with pleasure in bed. The image that popped into his head was a bit too realistic for his peace of mind. There was no denying he found her attractive, but he wasn’t sure he wanted sex to come into the picture too early. He dearly wanted to be her friend first and that wasn’t easy to develop once one took the step into sexual intimacy with another. He cleared his throat and swallowed, “So what do you want to talk about Oriana?”

Oriana dunked her head then surfaced, wiping her eyes. She reached for the rose scent soap and began lathering her hair. “Samuel, actually. Is he dependable around young women?”

Damon laughed, “Dependable in what way? He adores pretty young women and is quite fond of seducing them into his bed. I suppose you can depend on him to succeed in that activity.”

Oriana hummed thoughtfully and dunked her head to rinse it before starting on her limbs. “I want him to stay clear of Indra at all costs and he needs to watch himself around Aria. I wasn’t entirely honest about Aria’s purity.”

“Surely she hasn’t been with other men? She seems rather proper,” Damon said remembering her concern over Oriana’s propriety. He couldn’t imagine her being critical of Oriana’s virtue while not practicing it herself. That seemed a bit hypocritical really.

“That was just a ploy to ensure their stay here, just in case I wanted to send them home, I’m sure of it. She was engaged last year actually, but after the young man managed to coax her into his bed he left her, breaking off the engagement only a few days after. She was absolutely devastated, of course. I don’t want a man like Samuel to come breezing in and take her to his bed, quite willing I might add, and then simply add her to his list of seductions.” Oriana scrubbed at her skin, grateful to get a week of dirt off.

Damon sighed, “Yes of course. I’ll speak to him tonight. He may be rather free in his favors most of the time, but I believe he is at least honorable. If he understands the situation I don’t think he’ll push her into anything.”

Oriana stood and wrapped a towel around her hair then around her body. “He seems like a nice man. It’s a shame that he hasn’t married.” She wandered to the wardrobe, startling Damon, who hadn’t expected her to appear in only a towel.

He averted his eyes as she gathered clothing and disappeared again behind the screen. “Samuel hasn’t realized that he’s lonely yet,” Damon murmured with a sigh.

“Lonely? But from the sounds of it he has plenty of companionship,” Oriana said struggling to get into all of the undergarments she was expected to wear and a pair of rather worn walking boots. If she had to wear all of the finery of a princess she decided her feet should at least be happy.

“He has many lovers, yes, but no love in his life, if that makes sense,” Damon grunted in response. “He doesn’t have a woman in his life that he can come to each evening and share his day or his dreams and frustrations with.”

“Neither do you,” she commented, pulling her dress over her head, smoothing the golden-brown fabric down and stepping out from behind the screen.

He smiled as she appeared, startled by her loveliness again, even with her damp hair curling around her face. “I have a potential someone at least,” he said with an amused grin. “You look lovely Princess.”

“Are we back to formalities again then?” she asked sinking into a chair across from him. “I despise gowns but I wear them because I should set an example for other ladies I suppose. That’s what mother says anyway. I think women should be encouraged to wear breeches personally. They’re easier to move in. Skirts get horribly tangled around my legs, especially in battle.”

He quirked an eyebrow, “You’re required to wear a gown in battle? That doesn’t seem very practical,” he grunted.

She laughed and leaned back into her seat, “No not quite. We were attacked on my eighteenth birthday in the dining hall. My mother was a bit distraught to see a very expensive silk gown sliced in half. I cut away the entire skirt so I could move.”

He laughed and slapped his knee, “I have heard a tale about the Princess of Alberia fighting in her undergarments. I suppose that’s where that story came from.” She quirked a grin at him and shrugged. He sobered a bit, “I also heard that your skill was quite amazing and that you’ve only gotten better.”

“I have,” she acknowledged, proud to admit it. She had worked hard to reach this level of skill in swordsmanship; she wasn’t going to hide it. There were few that could hope to best her, in structured competition at least, Damon would probably be one of them. His skill was legendary, but then he’d been in battle since he was only a boy. Her skill came primarily from sparring and the practice field. It was a problem she needed to rectify if they hoped to drive back the Hillmen permanently. “I would be honored if you would show me some of your skill and perhaps even train me a bit. My skill has been tried only a few times in battle.”

He shrugged and smiled, “I don’t see why I couldn’t assist you. It will give us the opportunity to learn about each other even further I think.” He was a little excited about seeing exactly what the Alberian princess could do, at least in a training ring. A woman with a sword was fairly alien to a young man that had spent his life among an all male caste of warriors, but perhaps it was time a few things changed.

“Perhaps Samuel will wish to join us as well? It might do him some good to see a different side of women, especially that of Aria,” she said with a small smile. “I think he will find it to be an educational experience.”

“You are forming a plan to marry poor Sam off aren’t you?” he asked with an amused snort. Samuel’s bachelorhood was very likely in trouble, Damon was sure of it.

She grinned and stood, “Perhaps, but I also want to get one of my best friends married off to a man that is suitable for her temperament and needs.” She held a hand out, “Now, shouldn’t it be about time to take the evening meal? I’m starving.”

He stood and tucked her hand into his elbow, “I would imagine that everyone is gathering in the hall by now. Let’s retrieve your maids and head there now.”

***

Oriana stretched and smiled up at the morning sky, still pink and pale from the rising sun. She loved being up before it rose. So many nobles slept until late in the morning or even the afternoon, wasting many precious daylight hours. Oriana was always ready to work before the sun had even deigned to rise.

She’d arrived at the training grounds only a few moments ago with her maids and Isaac. Isaac was still a bit quiet around Indra and looked as though his hangover had something to do with it. She wondered just how much apologizing Samuel had forced on the poor boy. Indra, on the other hand, was quite blatant in her regard for the young man, making him squirm under her curious gaze. Aria thought the whole situation was rather amusing and just smiled at the others’ antics.

While she’d gotten ready for bed Oriana had advised Indra not to push Isaac too hard now that she knew his feelings. Young love was so very fragile that Oriana was afraid that Isaac would spook if Indra forged ahead aggressively. Of course with the slowness that Isaac had taken in admitting his feelings, if involuntarily, perhaps Oriana would have to revise her advice.

After sending Indra to bed, she’d sat with Aria for a moment and advised her to avoid Samuel’s bed, warning her of his history. Aria had gone away a bit disappointed, but understanding that Samuel was a dangerous prospect for her once burned heart.

Oriana started to wonder how well Aria had understood, however, as Samuel strolled out into the training grounds. Aria’s eyes focused on the grinning, handsome man almost immediately. Oriana supposed that he was hard to ignore. He was sinfully good looking; his every move was laced with sensuality, whether he realized it or not. Samuel bowed to each lady and kissed her hands in turn, though this time he didn’t single either of them out. Apparently Damon had spoken to his friend after all. Aria looked a bit deflated but still alarmingly determined. Oriana sighed inwardly at the tearful nights likely to come.

Damon arrived last, apologizing for his lateness, “I had a meeting with my father this morning, I beg your pardon Princess.” He kissed her hand gently and grinned at her.

Oriana was a little startled at the flutter she felt in her belly when he turned that handsome grin on her. Surely attraction wasn’t springing up so soon? They’d only just met! She did have to admit that he did look rather fetching in the soft morning light, and his tight breeches gave her a rather unobstructed view of his legs, hips and rear; she chose to ignore the well defined bulge as best she could. Even the loose shirt that he wore shifted with his muscles, growing taut here or there as he moved. On the whole she couldn’t help but admire what he must look like nude. It would be glorious if her imagination was anything to go by. She shook off those thoughts, tamping them down for later, private contemplation, and returned his smile confidently, “Good morning Damon, we were just getting ready to start.”

If he saw her blush he didn’t comment and she was vastly grateful for it. Instead he waved them all into the training ring and suggested they pair off. Indra and Aria moved away together as was their custom and Oriana nodded to Isaac. She wanted to be able to watch him first anyhow. It would allow her to prepare for her own matches with him.

Indra and Aria volunteered to spar first and gracefully settled into their favorite battle stances as the others moved to the railings and out of the way. Aria was the first to attack, being the more aggressive of the two and likely out to prove her skills in front of a certain manservant. Oriana watched with amusement as Damon’s and Samuel’s expressions shifted from amused and indulgence to astonishment. She had to smirk a bit at their conceit over what they considered a man’s sport. Indra and Aria were excellent swordsmen, nearly equally with Oriana herself. They’d spent almost as much time practicing as she had, and usually were her sparring partners. For a fleeting moment she wished that Tessa, her mother’s maid, was also here. She was a woman that could give almost any man a run for his money in the sparring grounds.

She wasn’t terribly surprised when Indra won the match. Her grace was terribly hard to match and Aria was likely a bit flustered by Samuel’s proximity. At least Indra was used to the object of her interest being nearby at such times. Isaac also spent a considerable amount of time practicing with the princess, preferring her company to some of the rather crass older men of the guard. She grabbed the young man’s arm and pulled him to the center of the circle, “Let’s take our turn next Isaac. Try your hardest, I want them to understand what a princess is capable of,” she said with a smirk at her young partner.

Isaac grinned mischievously at her, “Like you’ll beat me anyway Your Highness. I’ve been practicing. I’ll beat you this time for sure.” She laughed and took her stance, telling him he could try. He always made a very good partner, since deep down the man inside didn’t like being beaten by a woman. As a result he tried very hard and put everything he had into the fight each time.

Isaac lunged first and swung towards her side, smoothing arching towards her other side as she blocked. After a moment of defending Oriana launched her own attack, her movements graceful and precise. She knew she couldn’t hurt Isaac, he was good enough to block her attacks, so she didn’t hold back much. He simply grinned at her and made her laugh. Isaac was typically quite shy, but something about battling against a good opponent pleased him and he showed it quite openly. The quiet boy would even shout taunts and laugh during battle, much to the annoyance of his partners. Oriana had a fleeting thought that this might be the perfect way to get Isaac to open up a bit with Indra. Of course that thought also distracted her and nearly caused her to lose the match as he lunged forward to set the blade at her neck. She only just recovered and spun gracefully, ending up behind him, with her sword to his back.

He laughed and rubbed the back of his head, admitting his defeat once again, “Perhaps next time,” he shrugged. “Though you did get distracted for a moment and I thought I had you.”

“I was thinking about you darling,” she said with a teasing smile.

He quirked an eyebrow, “Are you harboring a secret love for one of your soldiers Your Highness?”

She grinned and kissed his cheek, “Not in the least, I’m sorry to say. I was thinking that you should spar with Indra,” she said softly. A blush instantly flooded the boy’s cheeks. “You see! At the mere mention of her name you flame up, but when you’re in battle you’re so confident and easygoing that I’m sure it would benefit both of you. If you would just relax for a moment, you two might get somewhere in your relationship. Are you at least willing try?”

He swallowed, still blushing, and nodded, “If you think it would help Your Highness.”

She smiled and patted his shoulder, “I do. Now let’s clear off the field so Damon and Samuel can use it.”

Damon raised an eyebrow at her as she approached. The four hadn’t been able to hear the conversation post-battle. “Should I worry about competing for your affections?” he asked with a small smile.

“Mm, I have a secret preference for young soldiers,” she said with a grin. “You?”

He laughed, “Young soldiers definitely aren’t my type. I hope once we marry you’ll forget these little fantasies.” She shrugged and hopped up onto the fence, beckoning him to join Samuel in the center of the field. He simply shook his head and laughed as he joined his friend.

Oriana couldn’t help but stare in open admiration as the two men circled and lunged at each other. They were a glorious pair for any woman to watch. Both were tall and broad, muscles flexing delightfully everywhere. To her dismay a blush spread across her cheeks and warmth coiled low in her belly as the two struggled on in a magnificent display of masculine prowess. By the time Damon pinned Samuel to the ground, hands held over his head, Oriana was lost. Both men were laughing and patting dirt off their clothing before she finally shook herself from a variety of rather unwholesome thoughts.

Samuel looked over at the blushing princess and smirked slightly. He’d seen that glazed over flushed look enough to spot it anywhere. He patted Damon on the shoulder, “I think we got your little princess in a bit of tizzy,” he murmured softly.

Damon flicked a glance to the blushing young woman, who quickly averted her gaze. He grinned, “Indeed. She looks rather fetching like that doesn’t she?”

“Pity you’ve only known her a day now,” Samuel replied with a snort. “You noble folk have to go through all those formalities and such. I’d rather just get right to it.”

Damon rolled his eyes, “You’re a ‘noble folk’ too Sam, albeit a fifth son. Besides this is my marriage I’m setting up here, not a night with a kitchen maid. I told her that we’d work on building a strong friendship first, so that’s what I’m going to try to do. Now if you’ll excuse me I have a princess to ease.” Damon strolled the where Oriana was trying to gather her errant thoughts.

She managed to smile at him without blushing terribly, something she was rather grateful for. “That was splendid,” she said as he returned her smile. “Both of you are excellent swordsmen”

He hopped up onto the fence with her and grinned, “Thank you. Sam and I have been sparring since we were thirteen or so, though we were really quite horrid at it then. It usually just turned into a boxing or wrestling match.”

She laughed, feeling her body relax in his easy company. She decided that she would have reacted in the same fashion watching any two handsome men competing and pushed the feelings away. It wasn’t as if she wanted a passionless relationship, she just didn’t want it interfering with her current goal of getting to know what kind of man he was.

Oriana was just a bit surprised when swords clashed not far from them. She looked up and smiled, seeing Indra deliver a series of potentially deadly attacks on Isaac. The boy was grinning like a madman and his eyes dancing in delight. “I thought that might loosen him up a bit,” she murmured. “They don’t spar much at all, but look how confident he looks with her now. Something about battle makes him confident and even a bit reckless.”

Damon laughed, “It gets the blood flowing in a man or, in your case, a woman,” he amended with a wink. “I’ve actually seen men get aroused in battle,” he said with a shrug. “For your Isaac, battle is probably an outlet for his emotions, it isn’t uncommon. If that’s true your friends will have a very interesting marriage…probably a very passionate one.”

She wrinkled her nose at him and smiled mischievously, “So I could expect the same with you?”

He grinned at her in an entirely new way, one that brought back that strange warm feeling in her belly. “With me you have little choice but intense passion. I not only expect it, I’m very good at cultivating it. If at any time it falters in our marriage you must inform me at once so I may correct the situation immediately.”

She flushed and stared at him, eye’s wide, “Indeed?” she stuttered.

“Indeed,” he murmured with a slow, confident smile. At that moment Oriana realized she was in very great danger of falling for her prince and it terrified her more then anything she’d ever experienced in her twenty-five years of life.