The Queen's Favor

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. All characters and places herein are creations from my own mind, any resemblance to real people or places is purely accidental or possibly delusional on your part.

I'm thinking of either getting Triney out of the castle and following her story or staying in the castle and covering the shorter stories of people who cross the queen for their peril or pleasure. This is my first attempt at anything like this so input would be appreciated.


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It was only when Triny took her first steps out of the forest and onto the road leading to the castle that she let an unconscious shudder take her. She fought the urge to step out of the moon light and back into the shadows behind her where she felt safe.

“At least there I can just stab anything dangerous” she reflected to herself finding that regrettably her feet had picked up where her brain had left off and started carrying her towards the castle. She had no idea why she had received the summons from the Queen, while far from modest she could hardly think of a single thing she’d accomplished on the battle field that would have gotten the Queen’s attention. She suspected her father had something to do with it, he’d been far to pleased when the invitation reached his manor.

“It’s about time you act like a princess” he said cuffing her shoulder with force that many of his son’s could hardly endure. Righting herself she thought to assuage him and immediately started a high pitched whining of how badly she did not want to go. That only served to get her a cuff to the head. She rubbed the bump on the back of her head she gave him two nights previous and considered the escorts, that had made camp four miles behind her cursing their luck not to be sent to such an accursed place. She knew at least why her father insisted she went - grandsons. For a kingdom whose history was based on the foundation of war the King wanted grandsons, or at the very least granddaughters he could make into grandsons. She scoffed to herself “If he forced some of his sons to take responsibility for their bastard children he’d already have a castle full of grandsons. “

Triny’s internal lamentations and feet were brought up short by the sudden appearance of the castle door. Looking behind her surprised at how far the forest was behind her she sighed sadly and knocked on the door. A servant woman, on closer observation a child opened the door and smiled as she looked Triney over.

“Oh it’s YOU!” the servant blurted practically bouncing on her feet. The warm welcome only made Triney feel colder not understanding the girls ebullient if not personal greeting. The girl, seeing the wariness in Triney’s eyes immediately corrected herself.

“I’m so sorry Princess, the Queen is expecting you please allow me to show you and your escorts… WHERE ARE YOUR ESCORTS!!!” the girl shrilled as she looked over Triney’s shoulder.

“They have made camp a few miles back” Triney explained attempting to comfort the paling girl. “You’re swamp lands are a good place for some combat training and we did not want to miss the opportunity”. This seemed to steady the girl. Triney did not want to mention that this was as close as any of her escort wanted to get to the castle.

“Well then please allow me to show you to your room” the servant replied taking up an ecstatic smile again as she ushered Triney into the castle. Triney followed her through the darkened hall ways mostly following the whispering echoes of the girls steps barely audible under the clinking of her own armor. The girl opened a door leading to a room dimly lit by both fire place and candles.

“Dinner will be ready in an hour a dress has been laid out for you on the bed, will you be needing any further assistance Princess? “ the girl said as she gave a quick curtsey.

“Dinner at this late hour?” Triney exclaimed taken aback. She’d purposefully been late so she could gather some form of intelligence from the castles servants before having to see the Queen.

“Yes highness, it’s a late schedule but you get used to it after a while” the girl responded.

“I most certainly hope I won’t get the chance” Triney thought to herself, then aloud “I should be fine thank you” she said smiling to the girl.

The girl’s smile widened as she began back away “As you wish - I’m very happy you’re here Princess” she said.

Triney’s smile faded as she closed the door between them “Guides and Guardians! Why am I here?”

Triney managed to clean herself and get the dress on without any hassle. She’d been surprised that the Queen knew to lay one out for her, it was a habit only friends of the family participated in when they objected to her dining with them in pants and armor. The level of familiarity was only increasing Triney’s sensation of dread.

“Don’t underestimate that Vixen” Guntram one of her father’s commanders advised her while they sat round the camp fire the previous night. “The dragons we fall with strength and steel would fall easily to that one’s sorcery”. Of course to Guntram anything not done with a sword was Sorcery. However his belief was common to most, that beyond the rules of warfare the Queen had a ferocity all her own. Rumor’s of kingdoms she’d brought down through intrigue and addiction were openly spoken of in most social circles, darker practices that occurred in the castle were only rumors half overheard while passing dark alleys. Darkness and evil Triney could fight, but remembering what fork to use and when to giggle mindlessly was frankly making her stomach hurt. Steeling herself she headed for the dining hall. Opening a door at the far end of the dining hall she saw what she had hoped for. One of her Uncles mentioned when he had been invited to dine for having saved the Queen’s brother that he had been seated at the lower portion of the table. He’d complained about how dim it had been but rationalized that while he had been in the Queen’s favor for the evening, he was a little to war torn to be in the Queen’s view.

Triney entered the dining hall at this darkened end and was happy to sit among the many warlords and commanders who happily accepted a pretty girl into their company. Under the brightest light sat he empty Queen’s chair surrounded by a collection of uninterested beautiful people. She wrinkled her nose at the arrogance and coldness that each gesture seemed to imply. Her mother had tried to make her one of these people, what she had taught her was “high society” but Triney when under scrutiny blushed too much. Her mother quickly dismissed Trinity as a useless Hellion once one of her younger sisters started showing promise. It was one of the few times Trinity was thankful for her families prolific nature. Comfortably seated she quickly became immersed in the tales spun by the men around her which slowly crescendo into raucous scar stories. Trinity lifted the hem of her skirt to show off the teeth marks when a troll thought dead had sunk his teeth into the back of her calf. Feeling a authoritative presence from over her shoulder she lowered her skirt and turned to the two guardsmen who stood behind her.

“Please forgive us Princess Trinity” one guard said in a regretless monotone “had we been aware of your presence we would have ushered you to your appropriate seat” Triney’s heart sank as she bid her companions goodbye walking towards the brighter side of the table. The Queen watched her approach expectantly and having no other experience to draw from Triney took up the stoic face of the guardsmen that flanked her. She had given up counting the chairs between the Queen and the one empty chair available, no matter how many times she did there were only two.

“My Dear” the queen purred as Triney and seat were pushed to the table side “when we sent an escort to your room to fetch you, you were not there we were concerned that we lost you” many amused eyes alighted on her waiting for a response.

“It would be cowardly of me not to mention your highness, that being of the kingdom of Copper Tree we have the floor plans of every castle memorized of both hostiles and allies.” a few eyebrows raised at the implied threat.

“Ah yes, I find many from your kingdom to be so honest and confrontational. T’is a pity we receive so few of you” she chuckled appreciatively. Many shoulders relaxed and the Queen flitted her attention from person to person within the light of the candles. The food arrived and Triney cast a regretful glance to the dark end of the table, now invisible to her amongst all the finery as she asked herself again how she happened to be invited here.

Triney was happy to eat in silence, discretely observing those who sat around her as she believed they were observing her. The women she surmised were cold and self involved, the only glitter that showed in their eyes was either in malice or when they were talking about themselves. The men, well most of the men who were sitting at this end of the table were heart achingly beautiful Trinity had to admit. Their skin was pristine in comparison to her own though she had few mars given her lifestyle, she kept herself from observing them outright by believing them to be “fragile” for her appetite. However that didn’t seem to keep her eyes from wandering to the gentleman seated before her. His complexion was darker then many of the other guests and dark hair cascaded over broad shoulders shadowing a strong jaw line and impish eyes.

He locked eyes with her once when she was surprised to be looking at him again. His face was expressionless but she felt herself falter at the heat coming from his eyes. Triney felt the edges of a blush creep up her shoulders, and her mothers training rang in her ears distracting her for a moment when she noticed the predatory smirk that had replaced his stoicism. Triney gulped down the rest of her wine breaking the locked gaze she had been captured in.

The servant girl that had greeted Triney at the back entrance at what seemed like eons ago now was bringing out pitchers, filling empty cups. She smiled warmly at Triney from across the table to which Triney smiled back. Triney barely noticed the cold and calculating glances she had received from the Queens usual dinner guests seated across the table until it was far too late to take it back.

“Ah I see you recognize young Sorcha” the Queen held out a hand to the girl who switched pitchers to her other hand to take it and curtsy.

“Highness?” Triney questioned looking over the girl again.

“She is such a sweet dear, no you don’t recognize her, when you knew her she was only a babe.” Triney looked to the Queen questioning.

“Young Sorcha is the only one who lifts my spirits when I am in a dangerous mood, she is a ray of sunlight on my darkest of evenings. When I asked her what I could do for her to thank her for warming my heart she requested not privilege or riches, but to extend my favor to the young soldier who had saved her when she was but a babe.”

Triney took a swig of wine, searching her memory for the instance and wondering if she should have in fact let the child perish if it meant saving her from the wicked glint in the Queen’s eye. Her mind swayed slightly and she inwardly regarded the wine, then her level of anxiety trying to find its cause. Her eyes met the Queens as she patted Sorcha ’s hand. “Go ahead my dear, tell my dear friends your story”

The girl composed herself then brightly began to speak to the table of bored onlookers.

“When I was born my family was forced to flee the starving lands…

“Of course they had to flee, it was the Starving lands - poor girl doesn’t even know the legitimate name of her conquered motherland.” Sniped a courtesan down the table from Triney. The woman quickly choked under the glare of the Queen and folded her hands on her lap. Unaffected Sorcha continued;

“Our group had been attacked by a clan of goblins and soldiers from Copper Tree who’d been patrolling the trail had come to our aid. While the others were slain one of the goblins picked me up and ran away with me into the woods. My mother said that though the others tried to hold her back a woman dressed as a soldier veered her horse into the woods and after the goblin. She chased the goblin for three days never giving it enough respite to do me any harm. On the third day she brought the goblin down and carried me by foot back to my family as her horse had died from exhaustion.” Sorcha ended her story smiling brightly at Triney.

Triney’s head spun as she remembered the event. It had been such a dark time escorting the refugees to safety. She remembered the seven days it took her to hunt the goblin and carry the child home with hardly enough food and water to sustain them both and yet all she could remember was smiling happily at the youngster she found in her charge. It was that memory which had sustained her through many of the following trying months.

“So it appears that by favoring this sweet girl for the kindness she brings to my hearth I must also favor you dear princess for being the benefactor of her life.” the queen smiled with what seemed like too many teeth to Trinity. Her fear spiked for she’d heard it was as dangerous to fall under the Queens favor as it was her disfavor. She tried to modestly bow her head away from the attention of those seated around her but felt as if her head dipped too far of it’s own accord. She lifted it again and the room spun out of focus. She looked confused to the man across the table, he extended a hand to her smiling broadly now. She noticed belatedly that she’d taken his hand and held onto it as if she were falling off a cliff. Triney wondered momentarily if she were having an anxiety attack, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Looking to the queen and her Cheshire grin Triney shook her head.

“Nope” she decided unconsciously aloud “I’ve been drugged” giving the queen a disappointed head shake and an exasperated sigh before her head hit the table.

“Princess your kingdom is so delightfully direct!” Triney heard the queens laugh in the far distance as thought and consciousness raced away.


***

Triney groggily opened her eyes to look at a bare stone ceiling. For the countless time she wondered “Why am I here” when she realized somewhere in her mind was an answer to that that just required some digging. She was at the Queens palace, that much she remembered. Was she being punished she wondered as she noted the manacles around her legs and wrists. She struggled to note any of the details around her, suddenly realizing she was naked. She remembered foggily that she’d fallen under the Queens Favor. She felt a warm hand caress the bottom of her foot making her squeak and looking down she recognized the broad shoulders and tawny flesh of the man who’d been at the table in front of her. He was equally manacled and naked but to her relief seemed to come to the end of his leash with that small amount of contact. With that amount of relief she allowed herself to fade back into unconsciousness.

A tug on her leg woke her an expanse-less amount of time later. She jolted to awareness noticing he was much closer than before. He knelt between her calves arms grasping to her hips attempting to pull her closer to him. He grimaced in frustration but smiled as their eyes met realizing that she was conscious again. His fingers released their grasp of her ankles and she tried to shimmy away from him, but neither direction were providing any give. His hands caressed the underside of her knees which made her shudder as she felt his tongue trace the teeth mark scars visible from the side of her calf. The intimacy she was used to was not as intense as this, even the small amount of contact made her legs shake and flames ignite through her body. She felt his teeth skim over the imperfections on her skin and a course vibration rose up her leg as he chuckled.

She rose herself up as much as she could to snap at him to which he rose up as well reaching for whatever skin she was willing to give him still held back by his chains. Looking clearly into his eyes she noticed the pitch black of them and realized she was not the only one drugged this evening. The man whose imposing erection was evident now that he was standing had been provided a strong aphrodisiac. A clinking sound echoed through the room as the chains gave out another foot. Sinking into the additional slack he began nibbling around her knees . As his tongue traced the muscles in her leg she started cursing his restraints more than her own. His hands could only reach her mid leg where his fingers greedily dug in holding her legs open . Looking down she saw him staring hungrily into her folds while he bit and kissed at the skin available to him. She flushed as she realized he was watching exactly how everything he was doing to her was making her wet for him. He almost seemed to growl as she felt some of her wetness drip down her core. Her back arched at the sound of more chain being released and she felt her lips descend mid thigh. His fingers could barely reach where Triney needed to be touched most , she opened her legs wider and shifted as much as she could until his a few calloused fingers shakily caressed her inner thigh. Triney breathing became gasping aroused by the biting that had become frustrated and demanding. He began yanking at her again determine to break her wrists or the manacles that held them and she found herself hoping he would.

She nearly sobbed with relief when she heard the contraption in the walls provide more give in the chain. The starved man between her legs let out another moan as he buried his tongue in her. His hands held her hips and open as he lapped at her folds she felt him chuckle with every gasp he wrung from her. She felt her channel tighten around his tongue and he whimpered in dissatisfaction as she came hard back arching off the table, his tongue lapped at the juices that flowed from her. She tried to pull her hips away from him but he held her firm and quickly worked her back into fevered thoughtlessness biting her inner thigh whenever she attempted to shift. The next release of the chain allowed him to crawl onto the pallet with her but not enough for him to bury his cock inside her . She watched it pulse and throb and noticed the bruise that was forming around the manacle around his throat that he struggled with. Before she could advise him to let up she felt his finger slide into her, her eyes rolled up into her head as she felt the friction of his hand against the spot that made her hips buck. He rested his head on her stomach and she felt him smile as her legs attempted to wrap around his torso only to be restrained. He added another finger into her and she felt him laugh again at her wantonness. Irritated she clenched her muscles hard around his fingers and he bit her stomach groaning in aggravation.

Almost on cue the contraption in the wall began to let out chain again seeming to give him the space he needed. Diving he grabbed her shoulders as if afraid the slack would be taken away at any moment and buried his cock inside her without hesitation. Her back arched off the pallet he only needed to wait a moment for her moan of pleasure before he started pumping inside her. Her hips raised to join his as his teeth traced the tendon of her neck. He grunted as she clenched her muscles with him buried to the hilt inside her. Sweat and bruises covered her and Triney was gasping for breath as she felt herself nearing another climax. Grinding her hips more aggressively against him he groaned as he grabbed her hips forcing them down onto the pallet as he began pounding into her. She felt his muscles tighten and his pace loose rhythm as she closed her eyes and allowed her world to go white with pleasure. She screamed her pleasure as he found his milked dry by her contracting channel. After his release she saw him give one angry stare at where the chain lead into the wall before he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and passed out. She fought unconsciousness for a moment as they lay nose to nose attempting to memorize his features saddened that she hadn’t known his name so she could have called out to him as he made her come.