To Do What Is Necessary

The next day her ladies dressed her in the light blue dress after she had eaten in bed. It had a more demure cut as many women seemed to cling to their men when she moved near. It also had a nice hat with a light blue ribbon that streamed down her back. Once more she was asked to play one game or another and even challenged to play croquet by Baylen who was dressed in a Light green suit today. He had won the game but only just barely, she never playing it before. He told her they should have played for stakes and he told her he would have asked for a simple kiss if he had won. He showed her around to the of the people that she had only passed by the day before. The palace seemed always filled with people and there were always a new face or a new name to know and learn.

The King had come to eat lunch with her. They were given their own wall-less tent and he kissed her warmly when he scooted her chair in. He had on his coat of office and he poured their wine himself after he dismissed the servants.

“My apologies I...I just wanted to be alone with you, if but for just a little while,” he said in explanation. He asked if she needed her meat sliced, she knew he would do it for her if she nodded so he did. As he did though he kissed her several times. Some sweet and chaste kisses, some longer, more passionately and it was clear to her that he didn’t want them to end. “If this tent had walls…” He whispered into her ear and she knew he meant that.

The ham was roasted with something sweet upon it but she couldn’t place what it was. As they ate and drank he asked her if she was having a good time and seemed genuinely interested in who she met, what she knew and any other things she chose to tell him. He complimented her on her hat and her dress and tempted her asking her what it would take to get that off, was it more difficult than the last one?

Unfortunately mid way through a servant came in, excusing himself for his intrusion and the King or, ‘her’ King rather was scuttled off again. It would be clear to her that alot was happening behind the scenes and France itself might be in dire danger. What might trouble her though would be twin or not he seemed genuinely trying to save it. If she exposed him, if he were the twin Gaston, would it be better with the other? By bringing this one down they all might be hurrying France to its doom. Not all good men can do what is needed to do. She knew that fact very well. That and all of this would end for her.

Angelique was starting to remember people's names and faces now without Baylen's assistance and she found she actually enjoyed their company. When she was challenged to a game of croquet by Baylen she accepted with a grin. She proved to be quite good, even though this was only her second time playing. However, Baylen did win. She smiled and blushed when he told her that he should have asked for a kiss from her if he had won. She suggested that he should have because he wasn't going to win next time.

At lunch the king emerged and escorted her over to their own private wall-less tent. There they shared warm kisses and good food and wine. They talked and laughed and flirted. It was good to see the stress temporarily gone from his face and she was surprised to find that not once during the lunch did she think about the scar or D'Artagnan or whether or not he was the real king. She found that she genuinely enjoyed his company and the way he treated her. She felt like a queen around him and knew that his affections were real. As she watched him walk away with the servant she felt confusion fill her heart. She knew what her mission was, but even if this man wasn't King Louis, but his twin brother, was that necessarily a bad thing? Whoever this man was he seemed to be trying to save France. Was she doing the right thing?

That night, it was after she had laid down to sleep the King entered her room. He held a candle and he used wit to light a few others in her bed chamber. He saw that she stirred sleepily as he slid back the sheer on the right side of her bed. He smiled as Angelique sat up to receive him however there was nothing to do for her hair. "Oh, do not trouble yourself my love," he said and for the first time he had used that word toward her. And she thought his eyes had meant it.

"I brought us a snack if you care to have some," he said and he uncovered a small plate of chocolate covered strawberries. He had one then smiled when she took one as well. "You being here...for me...I don't know how I managed before I met you," he said. "They are pushing me Angelique, he said almost mournfully. "I feel as if I'm in a deep hole I can't crawl out of. I will be damned for any way I choose to climb out of it," he explained and he brought his hand to his head as if it hurt.

Angelique had been asleep for a little while when she was awoken by movement in her room. She blinked slightly as she stirred and saw it was the king. She slowly sat up as he sat on the bed. She realized what a mess she must look, but he didn't seem to care. She couldn't help but smile, however, when he showed her the chocolate covered strawberries he had brought. She accepted one and took a small bite. It was delicious and she had to wipe away a little pink juice as it ran down her chin. She watched him as his smile faded and the look of stress came back over his face. In that moment a feeling she was not expecting came over her. She was surprised to find that she truly cared about him and she hated to see him like this. She put down the rest of her strawberry and moved closer to him. She took his face in her hands and looked into his eyes.

"If what you are doing is in the best interest of France and your people then you should not doubt yourself. In your heart you will know what to do and I will stand beside you and support you."

He looked at her and his eyes were sullen as if he had to do something he knew he wouldn’t want to do but had little choice but to do it. “You always know just what to say to me Angelique...I don’t know how I could ever thank  you enough..for..for everything", he said. If falling for her wasn’t enough. He sighed and fed her another strawberry and let her lick the chocolate off of his fingers. He set another one playfully in his mouth, he needed to forget his troubles, tomorrow would bring more he was certain and she was so beautiful even just from waking. And then he leaned in for her to bite it. When she did he smooshed the rest back into his mouth as he kissed her. They ate half eating and kissing, the tart taste of the strawberry and the sweet taste of the chocolate filling their months and delighting their tongues. He was surprised to feel her unbuttoning his coat. It was more than he had intended, he only wanted to make her smile and hear her voice before tomorrow came. But he let her anyway.

Her lingerie was a lacey thing, he could not really see the shade of it clearly in the dim light. It came down to just  above her breasts and with only a little help from her he grinned affectionately as she exposed herself to him. His lips still sweet with chocolate he availed himself of her pale mounds and pink nipples with his lips, his mouth and his tongue. This time he paused to take all of his clothing off, his knickers to so he could feel her body up against his. She helped him under her covers, this time fully taking him into her bed and he was delighted to feel her mouth and her fingers seeking out the more delicate places upon his body. He was not a weak man nor overweight. In fact she might think he could eat a little more. Always she had the opportunity to touch the area purportedly the scar might be and it might become harder and harder to will herself to do it. This man was King and he loved her. She knew it wasn’t something idle, a consort perhaps but certainly more now. He needed her, needed her motivation, her support, her guidance and her love. But there were two other men in her life as well.

This time he took his time with her. Every touch and motion designed to bring them both pleasure. Inside her he angled himself just so and he rubbed against that area that made her shudder and he kept doing it over and over until she gasped her breath into  his mouth. He moved a few more times, just as slow and deliberate as before and she felt his warm seed inside her. He shuddered to, the release making his shoulders visibly relax before her eyes. He stayed for a long while after, talking softly, making plans on moving her next to his rooms at the estate and the castle. She would want for nothing, and he would help her seek out a new puppy in the near future so that she could train it and have her loyal trio once more. He hated to have to leave that night. She could tell he wanted to stay there in her arms. He promised her after these talks, things would be different between them. She might have her own rooms but she could wake in his bed if that was what she wanted and it was plain to her that was what he wanted. However he never ‘told’ her how it would be. Only told her what he wanted but it might be odd for her to think that more and more what he wanted, she wanted to give him. He was her King...all of France’s to be sure, but also, just hers.

After he left Angelique just lay there for a very long time. She should have checked for the scar, but she hadn't. It wasn't that she hadn't been able to...she just hadn't wanted to. Neither answer was going to be good for her. If he truly was the king then she was going to have to break his heart by leaving...and if he wasn't the king she was going to have to betray him...which brought tears to her eyes. Even if he wasn't King Louis he was still of royal blood and was trying to save France. He had a good heart and clearly cared for his country. Everything about what she was doing made her stomach turn. In fact, she actually got up and became sick. With her stomach emptied of the chocolate covered strawberries they had just consumed together she climbed back into bed. She closed her eyes, but she couldn't stop the tears that began to roll down her cheeks.

OOC-Man, this is going to be so difficult for her lol

The next morning once more she was brought food to her bedside but when she waved the food away, something that worried her attendants, they coaxed her into at least drinking a bit of juice before they helped her dress. Just after so short of time, she would know that those that stayed at the palace would expect her to be there. They knew by now who she was and why the King had brought her. In other countries, men and women from those looked at her with disapproving eyes. But this was France and in France things were done differently. A man’s passions, especially important men like the King, needed such diversions to relieve strain and emotional baggage to aid them in leading and making the best decisions they could for their country. She was a mistress but now that the King had no wife, she was very near to that title for him and everyone knew that and accepted it. She had a role to play and it was not insignificant she would come to find. People had worries and sometimes they came to her with them. For that, advice and other things to her surprise.

Out with her dogs alone, people knew to leave her be when she walked the gardens, D’artagnan cornered her in the hedge row. He was angry, how he knew she had had him in her bed she could not know but he did.

“And you don’t...know...yet?” he said angrily. Before she could speak she was surprised to feel the back of his hand as he slapped her face and took hold of her. He shook her and lowered his voice. “Tonight you will finish this and don’t think I don’t know how well you’ve taken to your fancy clothes and to servants doting on you all day, while you are clean and comfortable men are dying Lorelei!” He said and used her real name. He had been like a father to her of sorts. Is disapproving eyes might be difficult for her to take. “You are married to a good man who is is real peril, every day they must wait to move it puts them more and more in danger of being found out,” he added with a snarl. She tried to back away but his hands were like vices on her shoulders.

“I know about you and Trevare, are there others to? Does Armand know how much of a whore you’ve become or is this just something recent?” he scolded but he knew what she was doing. He was saying these things to drive her, that much was obvious. “That man...loves you for what I do not know. But he does and not once have you sacrificed anything for him. You’ve been allowed to do what you want to do, well, you’ve opened your legs for the King, you can do it once more and get what we need...yes?” he asked but it really didn’t sound like a question.

Her stomach was still upset from the night before, but she allowed the servants to talk her into at least drinking a little something. She didn't really feel like it today, but she got up and was dressed. She needed the company of her dogs for a while and to try and clear her head. However, before she could get very far she was cornered. She politely talked to them, but they finally realized she wanted some privacy and they left her be. She took her dogs to the gardens, hoping to find a spot to just think, but before she walked in very far she was cornered by D'Artagnan. She was surprised to realize that he knew that she had had the king in her bed last night, but before she could open her mouth to try and explain she felt his hand slap her hard across her face. Her eyes watered from the strike and her cheek burned and turned red. When he grabbed her arms she tried to pull herself free, but he held tightly onto her. When he spoke about Armand and then Trevare she felt a few tears come to her eyes. There was obvious confusion in her eyes. How could she ever explain to him what she was feeling? He would never understand. She could try and tell him that whoever this man was she felt had a good heart, but he would not listen...she knew this. She had no choice in the matter. She had to complete her mission...for better or worse. She slowly nodded and looked down.

He left her standing there and briskly walked away. When she eventually left the hedge row she almost nearly bumped into Baylen who shoved her backward roughly. His face was not the pleasant, young, kind face she had come to know, this face was very displeased it looked to her. Had he overheard her and D’artagnan just now? And that's when she saw him draw out his sword.

Before she knew what she was doing her modified short blade was in her hand and a pleat in her dress had ripped at the haste she used to pull it free. He thrusted his blade right at her and she had to hike up her dress with her free hand in order to avoid tangling in it instead of using her offhand for proper balance as she deflected his blow. She knew he was stronger than she, had better reach and a better blade but his eyes rose in utter shock when she reposted and slashed at his arm and severed a tendon there. His sword fell from his hands and the pain of it forced him down to a knee before her. He looked up at her with disdain and he snarled at her as he held his arm that bled heavily onto the grass. The wound was long and severe she knew just by the look of it. Without some attention he would likely die, his own sword lay between them at her feet and it was obvious that he had just tried to murder her.

Lorelei sighed as she finally walked away. She had only walked a few steps when she nearly ran into Baylen. She was about to greet him when she noticed the scowl on his face. She started to take a step backward when she then saw him draw out his sword. She immediately went for her short blade which was hidden in her skirts. She pulled it out so quickly that she ripped the fabric in doing so. As he thrust at her she deflected and saw the shocked look on his face at what she had just at done. It was clear he had underestimated her. She saw his arm was bleeding badly and he dropped his sword and then fell down onto one knee. She looked down at him. With her ripped dress and his sword it would be clear to anyone, especially the king that he had tried to kill her. He wouldn't stand a chance.

"I will have the King be spare your life if you tell me why you just tried to kill me?"

Baylen looked up at her, hatred and disdain for her in his voice. “We do not forget the murders of our brethren,” he said in a very English accent and he spat at her, spittle catching onto her dress. What was more concerning was that he chuckled at her. “I have failed but perhaps we still may yet have some revenge! For my father, the Ambassador and Lord Ogden...Britain, NEVER forgets!” he growled. Before she could say or do anything D’artagnan was right beside her once more and his blade delved deeply into the man’s throat then out again, quickly. He snatched her blade from her as Baylen fell to the side and gurgled blood, thick and red out of his mouth and throat. D’artagnan cleaned her blade off then sheathed it behind his own that he cleaned and resheathed it quickly. As he had done all that a cold sweat swept over her, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end. “The Princess!” She would likely know, they had come to finish what they started! And then they heard the screams…

D’artagnan saw that she was set to run but he shoved her back rudely and flung his hand out toward her to stall her movement. “No, we must remain to deal with...this,” he said and then he yelled, ‘Guards...guards, to me! To me!” And they came, men in uniforms and helmets with polearms. Others came to, some with their swords drawn ready to fight. “This man tried to kill the lady, get this...trash, out of here!” D’artagnan barked. Several of them stepped forward and took hold of Baylen who stared blankly up into the clear blue sky. To them it all looked like D’artagnan had saved her in the knick of time.

“D'artagnan, the princess has been attacked,” one of the guards said. “Several men are dead but she was only injured in the fray,” he said quickly. D’artagnan handed Angelique off to one of them, “With your lives, I will not have harm come to Angelique, yes?” he snapped and they all saluted him as they took up positions around her as D’artagnan sped away. Angelique would know that Trevare had been guarding her.

Lorelei was shocked by his response and the fact that he now spoke in perfect English. He was a spy! Before she could do anything D'Artagnan appeared and thrust his blade into Baylen's neck. She gasped and stepped back as he collapsed to the ground...thick, red blood pouring out from the deep wound in his neck. She then began to think again about what he had said and realized that he must have come back to finish the job with the princess. Before she could say anything she heard a scream. Instinctively, she started to go towards the sound but D'Artagnan stopped her. As other guards appeared she remembered that Trevare had been assigned to protect the princess. When she learned that many guards had been killed in the protege felt her stomach turn. She wanted to ask about Trevare but she knew she couldn't. She was quickly led away to safety by the guards.

Earlier…

Trevare stood lazily across the hall from where the princess was sitting with one of her...friends. A wisp of a man with long, dark hair and dark eyes. They were kissing and they he saw the glint of steel appear in the man’s hand. Without thought Trevare flipped up then threw his knife. It hit the man but had not stuck but it was enough of a distraction to throw off his aim. His knife only cut into the princess’s arm and she screamed and fall back. It was then when he saw two other men coming toward him. Allowing one to get behind him he lurched forward and slashed at the one that laid over the princess as he drew out his blade. His blade bit deep into the man’s back and he flinched backward and convulsed to the pain and shock of the cut. He deflected the man’s blade that came at him from the front but the one behind scored a hit across his right shoulder blade. The wound caused Trevare to shift his position and now he fought two. The princess could only watch as Trevare stood over her and took wounds as he killed the two that had come to kill her.

Graciously when they came to help stop her bleeding, she had already began to help keep pressure on the worst of Trevare’s wounds, she told them not to worry about her and to help Trevare. By the time D’artagnan had arrived the princess had been attended to but Trevare had had his coat and shirt off and they were almost ready to move him and take him to the infirmary. To his surprise Louisa had demanded that she go with him, she would not leave his side and D’artagnan was forced to have guards accompany her.

……………………………………………….

Outside Angelique had had the guards accompany her back to the palace. She was able to get word that there had been a fight and that the princess was wounded but not badly and a guard by the name of Trevare had been taken to the infirmary and was fighting for his life. Three men had tried to kill the princess and all had been killed.

When Lorelei learned that Trevare had been badly injured and was fighting for his life she had to fight back the tears that threatened to come. She feared for his life and wished she could go to him. However, she knew she could not. All she could do was allow the guards to escort her back to her rooms.

That evening Vivian had come to her and told her that Trevare had asked for her. He was out of danger, his wounds were not so severe as they had thought but healing would take time. She suggested that if she accompanied her it might not seem so...awkward and so they went down to the infirmary to see him. The princess has been stitched up and released, foolishly she seemed pleased to have received a ‘war wound’ as she called it, not particularly concerned that she was a hair's breadth away from death. Each time Angelique thought that she might be a grown woman she would do or say something so ridiculous that she’d rethink that assertion.

Trevare was the only one in the infirmary right then save for a nurse who stepped away when they came in. Vivien and her guard remained at the door at her request as she moved down the line of empty beds to Trevare. When he saw her, he had not expected to see her he looked...tired she thought and ashamed. He turned his face away as if he could not bare to look at her. His chest had a bandage all around it with thick compresses in two places and she saw another on his back. He said no words as of yet as she came around the bed.

Angelique waited impatiently for any word about Trevare. She paced back and forth and wrung her hands. She prayed that if there was a God that he spare Trevare's life. Finally, that night she heard from Vivian that Trevare had survived and had asked for her. She walked down to the infirmary with her and a guard, but thankfully they agreed to wait by the door. Trevare was the only one there. She had learned that the princess had been treated and released, but seemed pleased with the wound she had received. That made Lorelei's blood boil. Trevare had almost died saving her and she seemed happy with the result.

She slowly approached his bed and as she did he looked over at her. She could see where the bandages were covering his wounds. He seemed embarrassed and turned away from her. She sat down on the edge of his bed and looked at him.

"You should not feel ashamed," she said softly. "You saved her life...and nearly lost your own." Her voice waivered as tears filled her eyes. "I was so scared for you. I was afraid I was going to lose you."

Trevare listened to her words but how could she know that was not what he was embarrassed about. He loved Angelique with all that he was. He wanted to reach out to her but he stilled his hands. Slowly he turned back to face her.

“No...you don’t understand. I did my duty, nothing more with...that. She caught me Angelique. Her and that...that...woman!” He said almost angrily. “I tried...I tried to to get out of her room but Janine...that...witch closed the door behind me. If i did not do what she wanted...I was afraid she’d….take offense,” he said woefully. “Now though, she looks at me as if i am some loyal dog she means to keep at her heels,” he said snappishly. And his expression was all she needed to see to know what he thought of that happening. It would not personal affront to her or no it would not. It was clear to Lorelei that both Louisa and janine had had their way with Trevare and that he had felt a great amount of guilt over it because of his love for her. She could only imagine what they did and what they had made him do.

Lorelei listened to him and she felt her anger grow as she realized what had happened to him. Of course she couldn't blame him. He had done what he had needed to do. She could only imagine what they had forced him to do and it sickened her. She reached out and gently took his hand.

"You did what you needed to do. I do not love you any less...in fact I love you more. Please do not feel guilt over this. I need you to heal and become well again."

When she told him that he grabbed hold of her hand tightly. His grip hurt, he was a very strong man but he didn’t seem to notice her wince and try to pry her hand away.

“Then you do what you’re supposed to do...do it and be done with it!” he nearly barked at her with clenched teeth. If she had likely this would not have happened but she knew he would never blame her for it openly if at all. She shared a glance with Vivien who looked worried and overheard a guard say, “Looks like war may be declared upon all of England from this very room.” Trevare was angry and rightfully so, they had a job to do and she had been taking her sweet time about it because she had liked being pampered and the finery and people who looked up to her for a change. She was someone of import here, someone who could make a difference and just a wife and a poor one at that elsewhere. So many people were relying on her...abilities and likely men had died due to her delays. Men who might have had wives themselves and children. She knew Armand wanted her to bare his children. Wanted her to settle down to a place in the country and be his wife. To live with him and devote herself to him and their home and their children. Calling herself a wife was not at all the same as how ‘being’ his wife would be but she had never given what he wanted a second thought or a chance. How did Trevare fit into all of this? And now there was this other man she cared for, the King himself or his twin. Could she call him out and reveal the truth if it meant his imprisonment? She’d never see him again she was certain. She was also certain he was not the evil man they had made him out to be and the mere fact of him posing as the King, she had posed as other people many times when she had had to, might not be enough in her mind to justify such a fate as that. Yet there may be the real King imprisoned unjustly but when had she ever really cared about justice? It never helped her when Severin was raping her or extorting her or blackmailing her into doing what he wanted. Images of him on top of her, drooling as he fucked her or making her suck him off made her face nearly go pale as she stood up and faced away from Trevare. He let go of her hand as he saw her face but he would not apologize for that.

Armand could be hurt or imprisoned or dead already while she delayed to have another chocolate covered treat stuffed into her mouth. Another man was pleasuring her, giving her gifts and money and making love to her while she imagined him in the dark somewhere, his face dirty and wounded as he tried to rescue the man who could very well be her rightful King.

ooc: its decided, I know which way i am going to go. i'll not tell you though, muahhahaha!

lol

ooc: new thread