***Note: This story is a prequel/spin-off to my story "A Dragon's Tale", but this story has no spoilers for ADT. It takes place in the same world and gives the backstory for a few side characters in ADT. (One of whom you'll meet in Chapter 2). Despite the "reluctance" category, it's a true romance/love story. It's 5 chapters and finished, and I'll submit chapters every few days until it's all posted. Enjoy. :) ***

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CHAPTER 1: A noble knight & virgin princess forced together by a tyrant

* * *

"Hurry Your Highness, they'll be here any moment!"

Princess Shara was moving as fast as she could, but the urging of one of her handmaidens was motivating her to try moving even faster. The ringing sound of steel clashing with steel outside her castle window didn't hurt either.

Behind the changing screen, she was pulling the dress off as fast as she could. After pulling it over her head, she flung it to another one of her handmaidens, who began folding it to put it away. Yet another handmaiden gave her another dress. This one was far less ornate and exactly matched the ones her handmaidens were currently wearing.

Shara pulled it over her head and took a place in the corner of the stone room with her handmaidens. Nearby, she heard one of her handmaidens begin to softly cry.

"Take heart, we'll be okay." Shara offered.

"But we all know what awaits us when the men burst through." The distraught handmaiden sobbed. "We've all heard the stories."

"We won't let that happen, princess." Said one of the four elite soldiers assigned to protect her room. They were normally stationed outside, but they had herded the women inside and barred the door once the castle had been breached. Shara wanted to believe him. He was a good man, they were all good men, but there was no way they could hold off an army.

Her handmaidens all echoed that sentiment, but she doubted they could do much while being unarmed in silk dresses versus fully armed and armored soldiers.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

The solid oak door to Princess Shara's room was pounded on by what sounded like a small battering ram. They all gathered in the far corner of the stone room and the handmaidens all clustered in front of Shara to protect her.

"Ladies--" Shara began to protest.

"Your Highness." Elthia said, speaking for her fellow handmaidens. "It is our sacred duty to protect you. Please, let us do this. I would not face Illuminar, the Great God of Light, after my death and tell him I neglected my duty to my princess. Please, don't make me stand before Illuminar and tell him that I shirked my duty to protect you.

Shara opened her mouth to respond, realized no response could be made, then closed it and nodded. "Thank you."

CRACK!

The wooden beam which held the door in place cracked, but held. It wouldn't hold much longer.

"Remember girls." Elthia said to her fellow handmaidens. "The princess is one of us now and it's our duty to protect her. No longer call her 'princess', or 'Your Highness', or even 'Shara'. From now on she is merely Katia; handmaiden to Princess Shara.

"Katia." The handmaidens chorused quietly as one.

CRACK!

SNAP!

The wooden beam barring the door against the invaders failed and the doors banged inwards. Half a dozen enemy soldiers rushed in, their chainmail clinking and swords held ready. Princess Shara's -- Katia's -- personal guards readied themselves for a fierce battle... followed by their deaths.

The enemy soldiers grinned as their eyes went from Shara's protectors to the beautiful women they were protecting. Their eyes filled with bloodlust and another kind of desire too.

Shara -- Katia -- swallowed hard.

"Hold!" A commanding voice said from outside the door.

A man strode in with an air of supreme competence and confidence, but not a hint of arrogance. He was wearing the cloak of an enemy commander. The enemy soldiers seemed to both take strength from his presence and yet grow uncomfortable at it.

He wasn't particularly large or tall, but he carried himself like the nobles of the court, only without the arrogance they so often displayed. He observed the situation, and Shara got the sense that he saw a lot more than his troops wanted him to.

"I am commander Kalus of King Tyso's army." He said to Shara's guard. "Stand down; you needn't die pointlessly."

Shara's guard tightened their grips on their swords and their leader spoke. "Nay, for we've all heard the stories of what King Tyso's men do to helpless women."

Commander Kalus got a strange expression on his face. Almost derision, but it didn't seem to be directed at them.

"King Tyso's men have a reputation; mine do not." Kalus turned to one of his own soldiers. "Tell them what I told my men before we breached the castle."

The man gulped. "You said that whatever one of your men did to a woman of this city, you would use a sword's point to do the same to that man."

Shara felt a tiny glimmer of hope in her chest. Maybe, just maybe, she would escape this with her virtue intact.

Commander Kalus turned to Shara's defenders. "I swear to you on the name of the Great God Illuminar -- blessed be He -- that no harm will befall the women you protect while they are under my care. I further swear that without matrimony, none of them shall feel a man's touch so long as they are in my care."

Her protectors seemed to waver slightly, and she didn't blame them.

In many parts of the Ten Kingdoms, it was death to go back on a formal oath made by the Great God Illuminar. She wasn't sure, but she believed it was like that in the invader's kingdom as well. She didn't want to see her protectors die. They had protected her for many years and she knew them to be among the best of men. Her father trusted them with her safety and there could be no higher praise than that.

Shara nudged Elthia and gave a subtle nod of the head.

"Please," Elthia said to their protectors. "Please don't die needlessly on our account. I'm sure the princess wouldn't wish it."

Their guardians exchanged glances for several moments and then they lowered their swords, probably correctly assuming the order came from the princess.

"One more thing." Commander Kalus said. "The princess; where is she? I see naught but handmaidens here."

"Sir, our lady went out riding this morning before your surprise attack." Elthia began her well-rehearsed lie. "She was surely caught outside the walls and fled to another castle."

Commander Kalus looked each of her handmaidens in the eye. They had been trained to lie perfectly to protect their princess just in case of situations like this. Just growing up in court was training enough for her. Shara was sure none of them would give the secret away.

Commander Kalus's eyes bored into each of them for several seconds apiece. When Shara's turn came, she couldn't meet his gaze; it was piercing, intelligent, and his eyes were full of cunning and strength.

"Very well." Commander Kalus nodded but didn't seem entirely convinced as he addressed his men. "Take them into custody, and treat them gently." There seemed to be an implied threat with his tone at the end, as if to say "or else."

* * *

Commander Kalus breathed a sigh of relief as the flap of his tent closed behind him in his army's camp. The tent was far larger than he would've preferred at nearly fifteen feet across, but a wise man didn't refuse a gift from his king; especially one as fickle as King Tyso.

He slowly began removing his bloodied chainmail, wincing at the few bruises he'd taken in combat. From his perspective, the attack had gone well. They'd taken the city with minimal loss of life on both sides since his men had infiltrated the city the previous day and opened the gate in the dawn hours. However, minimal damage didn't mean none. Of course, Tyso had insisted that he use men from every legion instead of just his own, leading him to thank Illuminar that he had arrived at the princess's room before men from another legion had succumbed to their baser instincts.

With his armor removed, he lay down on his bed, hoping for nothing more than some rest after the day's exertions.

"Commander Kalus." A voice rang outside the tent.

"Report Kyselius." He replied to his herald.

"The king requests the honor of your presence."

"I'll be there presently." Kalus sighed. A 'request' from the king was as good as an order. He stood, gave himself a quick sponge bath hoping to remove the most offensive odors, then donned some clean military clothing that was suitable for an audience with the king.

As he walked through camp to the king's tent, he surveyed the scene. The men seemed to be in good spirits, having sacked another city in this long campaign and each had added to his store of wealth taken from the city. He noticed there were rather a lot of young women being roughly carried into a soldier's tent in every legion but his own.

Most of the women looked extremely scared.

He grimaced, took a deep breath, and kept walking. He didn't control the whole army, just his legion. The king allowed each commander the autonomy to decide such things and he had no authority to override the king. Trying to help would accomplish nothing and would probably just make matters worse because then the few women he had rescued would be given to the 'care' of another. He tightened his fist at the sight and took a few deep, calming breaths.

He kept walking.

Two minutes later, the king's guard waved him into the royal tent.

It was a bright, opulent affair that was littered with the trappings of wealth that a successful king on a successful campaign accrued. Kalus himself had no desire for such trappings, but the king sure seemed to enjoy them.

"Your Majesty." Kalus said with a formal bow.

"Kalus my friend." The king boomed with a loud voice. "Your stratagem to take the city worked brilliantly. We took the city's wealth and women with barely a soul lost. May Illuminar Himself bless you."

"You are too kind my king." Kalus replied with another bow, not adding that Illuminar would likely not be pleased with the king's handling of events after the battle.

"With our airship fleet occupied with the enemy's airship fleet, you've done marvelously with the army." The king continued.

"Thank you sire." He bowed again.

"What reward would you have?" The king continued. "Anything you wish, it is yours; even to half my kingdom." He finished with the customary embellishment.

Kalus pretended to consider, something he'd gotten quite good at. "If it pleases my king, I would have a new saddle made by your majesty's own leather smith. My current saddle can cause all manner of aches on a long ride." It wasn't untrue. His saddle did get uncomfortable on long rides, but that wasn't because of the saddle itself; it was because he was riding for days at a time.

"Tosh my boy." The king said shaking his head. "We'll have none of those games today."

"My king?"

King Tyso raised his eyebrow. "How many favors such as this have I bestowed on you?"

"I am not sure my king, but your generosity certainly--"

"Oh stop." The king interrupted. "I've made this same offer a thousand times. They were sensible requests at first. A new sword, new chainmail armor; rewards befitting your service. But all you ask for lately is expensive trinkets, not a true reward. Why not a chest of gold? Why not large tracts of land back home? Why not some of the captured women to entertain you at night?"

"My king--" Kalus began, but the king held up his hand and he fell silent.

"These days, I practically have to force my gratitude on you. "The new tent, one of my own finest horses, clothing from my own tailor. You accept them politely but never ask for something more. Tell me now Kalus, and tell me true; what do you really want?"

Kalus considered. It could be death to lie to the king and for all his faults, King Tyso was an excellent judge of character.

"To end this campaign victorious and return home sire."

"Oh?" He seemed surprised. "Why is that?"

"Sire, I passed my thirty-fourth summer this year. I wish for a home and a family before age, infirmity, or a lucky strike on the battlefield take that possibility from me."

"Oh ho!" The king said with a good-natured laugh. "My best soldier turns out to be soft in his soul. What wise man would've guessed it so?"

"I don't know my king." Kalus bowed.

"Well, you should get started on that now my boy!" The king said jovially. "We have only a week or two left on the campaign, if that, and then home. Find some captured woman to warm your bed. If you like her, I'll sanction the marriage. Pick two and marry them both if that's your pleasure. You may have your choice of women, even among the noble captives."

"Your generosity knows no bounds my king." Kalus said with another bow, partially to hide his distaste for the idea of forcing a captive to marry him.

"Come, let us eat." The king called for food to be brought and they spent nearly an hour talking about the campaign and the strategy for taking the next and last fortified city that remained; the king's stronghold in his capital city.

About halfway through dinner, the king got a thoughtful expression and then whispered something into the ear of one of his servants, who then rushed off on some errand. Kalus ignored this, which turned out to be a mistake. At the end of dinner that same servant poked his head into the king's tent and nodded at the king.

"Now then, I have a gift for my most successful commander." The king said, then nodded to the servant.

The servant led a train of young women inside, none older than her teens or early twenties. All of them were very beautiful; among the prettiest women Kalus had seen.

They were also in chains.

"Now, pick one -- or more if you like -- to warm your bed tonight. If you like her, marry her -- marry two or three if you wish -- and start on those children. If not, she'll be a great reward for the men after the battle today."

"My king--" Kalus began, but he cut him off.

"I'll have no more refusals from you today Kalus." Tyso replied as he stood. "You've refused too many of my gifts already. Be careful, lest I think you're ungrateful." He finished with an implied threat.

"As you wish my king." Kalus also stood and bowed, already trying to figure out how to make it look like he'd bedded one of these beautiful creatures without sullying her honor.

"Now choose." The king waved his hand, then pointed. "That one has magnificent breasts. I'd take her myself if I hadn't promised you first choice." He pointed to another. "Or perhaps her; look at those legs and that ass. Mmm." The king licked his lips.

Kalus refrained from commenting with difficulty and kept a neutral expression on his face with even more difficulty.

"No?" Said the king. "Then who strikes your fancy?"

Kalus looked them all over, trying to decide which one of them was least likely to try and kill him in his sleep.

He made eye contact with each of the dozen women for several seconds, trying to get a sense of the people behind them. That allowed him to rule out half of them immediately. There was something slightly flirtatious behind their eyes, as if they were trying to catch his attention. Such women had surely been loose before their capture and he had no interest in women of loose morals; they tended to have less objection to murder and they would be more likely to let it slip that he hadn't actually bedded them.

He dismissed two others because the look behind their eyes was filled with rage and they might prove murderous.

That left four, three of which he recognized as handmaidens to the princess from earlier. He suppressed a grimace at that; none but the king could've removed them from their well-protected gilded cage. The girl that he didn't recognize seemed to have a haughty look about her air and demeanor. She clearly thought rather a lot of herself which Kalus found repulsive; he put up with enough of that from the king.

That left three, all handmaidens to the princess.

He supposed he shouldn't have been surprised. The princess's father had a reputation for being an excellent judge of character, even if he wasn't a strong king.

He met each of their eyes. One looked to have a real spirit about her, and she was the one who had urged the guards to surrender. She was clearly scared, but also clearly determined and seemed resolute that she wasn't going to be used. He doubted that she'd try to kill him -- she seemed too gentle for that -- but best to err on the side of caution.

The next one was the opposite. She seemed terrified and was doing everything she could to hide it. She wasn't likely to pose a problem, but then people do strange things when panicked. The old proverb about cornered animals sometimes applied to captives too.

That left the last of them.

She was shorter than the rest and likely younger too. He highly doubted that she'd seen more than eighteen summers. She only met his eyes for a moment before looking down. She was scared, but not terrified like the other handmaiden. There was also a strength behind her eyes, though without the strong adversarial element of the first handmaiden.

This one had a gentleness behind her eyes. She looked rather innocent, like a lamb in a lion's den, which unfortunately was her exact situation. Behind that appeared to be some resolve though; she looked gentle but with a strong spirit. Most importantly, she seemed the least likely to try to murder him in his sleep.

She would do.

"Her." Kalus said pointing to the last woman.

"Really?" The king mused. "I thought she was rather plain, but as you wish."

"Eye of the beholder your majesty." Kalus replied. Objectively speaking, he was right. However, she only suffered in comparison to the others. She was a beautiful woman in her own right and only seemed plain in comparison to the most beautiful women they had captured from the city. She was an 8 or 9 in the company of 9s and 10s.

The king shrugged, then picked out three women for himself -- all of them among the flirtatious ones -- and retired behind a flap to the rear room of his tent where the bed was. He wasn't surprised by the king's choice; he might be a petty tyrant but he was a good judge of character.

The servant led all the other women away except the girl he had chosen, whose chains he unlocked before he left. She rubbed her wrists where they had been, as the skin was red and looked uncomfortable.

"I am Commander Kalus."

"I remember." She said respectfully.

"What's your name girl?"

She hesitated before answering. "Katia sir."

"Follow me, Katia." Kalus turned and walked out of the tent. The girl followed, shaking slightly as she did so.

They walked through that camp to his tent and he held the flap open when they arrived. He indicated that she should enter, which she did. Kalus called for his squire to bring food before following her inside.

She stood in the middle of the tent, seemingly not knowing what to do.

"You may sit." He said indicating the bed, which was the only place to sit other than the chair at his desk because he had little need for furniture.

She trembled slightly and then slowly moved over to the bed, sitting on it as if it would bite or attack her. Her whole body was tense.

Very tense.

"Listen Katia, you don't need to--" Kalus stopped as his squire entered with two trays of food. It was field rations consisting of cold chicken, slightly stale bread, and some wine cut with water. The squire set them down on the bed, staring slightly at Katia as he did so.

"You act as if you've never seen a woman before." He said to the squire, who admittedly hadn't seen one in Kalus's tent before. "You may go."

The squire left and Katia turned to look at him. Now there was real fear in her eyes. She was sitting in such a way as to make herself look as small as possible. Her one arm was crossed across her chest and her other was unconsciously covering her nether regions, even though she was fully clothed.

She opened her mouth to speak, but didn't seem to be able to find the courage.

"Speak girl." Kalus said.

She mumbled something too quiet to hear.

"Speak up."

She took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and bit her lip before opening her mouth to respond. "Are you going to rape me?" She asked in almost a whisper.

Kalus considered how to answer.

The answer was of course no; he wasn't going to rape her. Illuminar -- blessed be He -- had forbidden sex outside of marriage in the Book of Light, so he wouldn't. He would consider it entirely wrong even without that, but she couldn't know that yet. He needed to make it sound good from the outside of the tent so a report would reach the king that he had indeed accepted his gift.

He highly doubted that this girl had the acting skills to pull off such a deception, especially if she was a virgin, because she simply wouldn't know what kind of sounds to make. He thought he could tease those sounds from her without taking her virtue, but it would be much harder if she knew in advance.

* * *

Shara waited with bated breath for the answer to her question. If he did take her, if he did force her, the odds of her marrying well would drop precipitously. There were too many virginal women to choose from and she would no longer be a princess by the war's end. The only thing she had left to entice a husband was her virtue. If that was lost... if it was stolen from her...

She could feel her throat beginning to get tight.

Still, he was silent.

She couldn't take it. He surely would've spoken by now if he wasn't going to rape her, right? Maybe he was a cruel kind of man? Maybe she had misjudged him earlier and he liked to play with his conquests as a cat plays with a mouse before eating it?

After nearly a minute, he finally spoke. "Are you a virgin?"

She nodded as the lump in her throat got tighter and she could feel a knot forming in her stomach. There was no reason for him to ask unless he was going to take her.

What if she got pregnant?

What if he finished inside of her and she carried his child out of wedlock? The world could be very unkind to such women and she would be spoiled beyond redemption, especially after her father lost the war and she was no longer a princess.

He narrowed his eyes. "Speak truthfully. If you lied and confess now, there will be no punishment. If you lied before and lie again..." He set his jaw hard as he let the end of the sentence trail off.

He would what?

What would he do?

"Are you a virgin?" He repeated.

She was a virgin. No man had ever touched her in all of her eighteen years, nor even seen her undressed. But his question almost made her doubt herself. He seemed willing and able to inflict great harm if she lied, but she wasn't lying. She was a virgin.

She nodded again, then tried to compose her face into a brave expression.

"Good." He seemed to relax slightly, then pointed to the tray of food next to her. "Eat; I doubt you've had a decent meal in the tumult of the day."

She nodded and then meekly took the plate.

It wasn't appealing.

The knot in her stomach seemed to grow tighter. He had confirmed she was a virgin; why would he ask unless he was going to take her virtue tonight?

Her stomach roiled.

She put the plate down.

"You're not hungry?" Kalus asked.

She shook her head.

He shrugged and took a bite of his chicken, tearing it off the bone without a utensil. She looked away. She couldn't bear it. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to be forced. It had occurred to her as the enemy's army had encroached ever deeper into her father's kingdom. But now...

She sniffled.

He made a thoughtful noise. "I suppose we should get this over with."

She instinctively flinched away before he moved.

"Relax girl, I won't hurt you." He said.

She didn't believe him.

He rifled through a travel pack on the ground and then stood with some kind of sash in his hand. He walked over to her, his large frame towering over her and making her feel even smaller than she was.

"Give me your hands." He ordered, rather more loudly than she thought was necessary. She swallowed hard. He was going to tie her up so she couldn't even resist. Once she was tied, it would be all over. There would be no way she could resist.

"No, no please sir. Please don't--"

"Your hands!" He barked loudly.

She flinched at his volume. This was it; there was nothing she could do. She only hoped he would be gentle with her, but that didn't seem likely looking at him.

She slowly, haltingly held out both her hands.

He took them rather more gently than she thought he would. He pulled her to the top of the bed, then held her hands on either side of one of the internal posts that gave the tent its shape. She realized he was going to tie her hands around the post and she started fighting to get away.

"Stop moving girl!" He thundered, but the expression on his face didn't match the anger in his voice.

For some reason, his tone and demeanor shocked her and for a few moments she was too stunned to move. Those few moments were all he needed. By the time the shock wore off mere seconds later, her hands were already securely tied to the tent post. She pulled, she tugged, she jerked, but they were securely fastened.

She couldn't use her arms.

He got up, fished out two more sashes, and then approached her left leg. She instantly jerked it out of the way, but he was too fast. She tried to kick him with the other leg but he caught that too. He used one of the sashes to tie her ankles together, and the other sash to tie her ankles to another tent post.

"Help!" She shouted. "Somebody help m--"

His hand clapped over her mouth. She tried to bite him.

He responded by pulling a long bit of cloth out of his belt and slipping it between her teeth when she next tried. He pulled the cloth tight around her mouth and tied it behind her head -- all while she was fighting -- and then stood up.

Shara tried to move, but she really couldn't move much. Her arms were tied above her head and her ankles tied together and below her feet. She was gagged and an impassive man was standing above her looking disapproving. She tried to get out. She tried to hurl all the insults and abuses she could think of, but the gag prevented her. It came out as a set of muffled and incoherent sounds instead.

He sat down on the bed next to her, and she tried to scoot as far away as possible with her hands and feet bound as they were. He placed his hand over her stomach and she flinched away as far as she could.

She wasn't going to let him touch her.

She wasn't.

Not if she could help it.

Without warning, both his hands shot out and fastened on either side of her stomach; above the hips and below the ribcage. She tried to scream and wiggle away but couldn't; not with how she was tied. His hands began to move, but the movement didn't seem to be sexual.

It felt like--

She involuntarily flinched as his hands moved across her stomach; never going higher, never going lower. She began to wiggle all the more fiercely as she realized what he was doing.

He was tickling her.

She tried to protest, but all that came out was a set of muffled moans and sighs through the gag. She tried to yell 'no' and 'stop', but he just kept going. Her gut began to clench and the noises coming out changed. She began to blush as she realized exactly what those noises sounded like through the gag.

To someone outside the tent, it might sound like they were doing... it.

He did this for a minute or two and then stopped. She tried to catch her breath as she was exhausted from first fighting him and then the intense tickling.

He stood up, grabbed a cup from the desk, and then pulled out a large dagger.

Her eyes went wide.

* * *

Kalus took the knife and gently prodded one of the shallow wounds he had received earlier in the day. It started to slowly bleed, and he let several drops fall into a shallow cup. He then added several more drops of water to the cup.

He walked over to the very confused girl.

"I'm going to untie and ungag you." He said quietly. "When I do, I'm going to turn my back and you're going to pour this over your nether regions and in between your thighs. Make sure some gets on the sheets as 'proof' I took your virginity. Do you understand?"

She didn't move for several seconds, then nodded hesitantly. Kalus sheathed the knife, untied her hands and feet, and then ungagged her. He held out the cup, which she accepted almost automatically.

"Tap me on the shoulder when you're finished and decent again." He whispered and then turned around.

About a minute later, he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see her standing with an empty cup looking extremely confused.

"Why?" She whispered.

He glanced at the bed and saw a small bit of blood on the sheets, about where it would've dripped if had he taken her virtue.

He looked at her. "Because Illuminar forbids a man from bedding a woman who isn't his wife."

"Blessed be He." She quoted quietly with relief all over her voice.

"Blessed be He." He echoed nodding.

She bit her lip and stared at him for a moment. "Thank you."

"I'm not done." He quietly. "I am sorry, but I will need to give you a rather large, visible bruise."

"Why?" she said as she shrank back.

"Think about what someone outside would've heard." He explained. "It will be much more convincing if there's proof other than a little blood on the sheets."

She trembled slightly. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." He said with a sigh. "Unfortunately yes. I have a reputation for not tolerating insubordination. I'm not a cruel man, but I don't tolerate challenges and deal with them both immediately and strictly. It must appear as if I did the same with you."

The girl nodded but clearly wasn't happy with the idea. He didn't blame her, but it would likely save her from a much worse fate.

"Lay down on the ground." He instructed. "I will give you a bruise with as little pain as possible, but it cannot be done without some pain."

She hesitated.

"Katia, I could have your virgin blood on my cock right now if I wished." He whispered impatiently. "I'm defying my king to preserve your honor and virtue, and the consequences if he discovered the deception would be severe. If I wished to harm you, believe me; you would know it."

She nodded, then laid down on her back.

Kalus grabbed a small peening hammer and a piece of thick leather. He had the girl lay with her head turned slightly to the right, so her left cheek was facing up. He set the piece of leather on her cheek, right where his fist would've landed if he was the sort of man to punch or backhand a woman. He wasn't.

Her eyes widened when she saw the hammer in his hands, small though it was.

He didn't blame her

"Close your eyes." He instructed.

She looked scared, like she was having a hard time believing that he wouldn't hurt her. Again, he didn't blame her. He was far larger than she was and was leaning over her holding a raised hammer. A small hammer to be sure, but a hammer nonetheless.

"Trust and close your eyes. It'll be over in a moment."

She looked him deep in the eyes as if searching, then her lovely eyelids fluttered closed. The moment they were shut, he gave a single measured swing of the hammer and hit the piece of leather, which was forced into her cheek.

She cried out in pain.

He winced.

He'd hit it hard enough to leave a good-sized bruise, but not hard enough to do any real damage. Plus, using the leather would greatly reduce the pain and chance of damaging her beautiful skin. She pressed her hand over her cheek and winced. Then she opened her eyes and looked at him with a strange look.

They stared at each other for several moments before she spoke. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, but let's not make this a habit."

She nodded. "Agreed."

"Now that you know your virtue is safe, are you hungry?"

"Starved."

* * *

Princess Shara -- or Katia as she had disguised herself -- ate the cold chicken and slightly stale bread as if it was a feast, for it was the only food she'd eaten since the morning. Her cheek hurt quite a bit, and even more so as she chewed, but she understood why he'd done it. She'd even thanked him for it, though it did seem strange to thank someone for giving her a large and visible bruise.

She watched him out of the corner of her eye as she ate. He looked like he had passed at least thirty summers, perhaps a bit more. His face had a day's worth of stubble covering a strong jaw. He was muscular, strong, and seemed like a good man. She had been helpless and yet he'd risked displeasing his king to protect her.

"Copper for your thoughts?" He asked.

"Why are you helping me?"

"It's Katia right?"

She nodded, though the new name felt very foreign to her.

"As I said, Illuminar wrote in the Book of Light that a man isn't supposed to bed a woman that he hasn't married."

She nodded, trying to decide if she should ask more.

"Katia." He lowered his chicken to look at her. "I'm going to tell you the same thing I tell my men: speak your mind. Do it respectfully, but make your opinion known. I might take your advice, or I might choose to completely ignore everything you say. You'll never know unless you loosen your tongue."

Shara bit her lip.

She looked at him for a moment and then decided that if he'd wanted to hurt her, he would have done so already.

"I don't understand." She said. "There's nothing you can gain from helping me and you stand to lose the favor of your king, so why do it?"

He got a thoughtful expression on his face as he looked at her, and she somehow felt like he was sizing her up before he spoke. "Let's say you're walking down the street and you see a man in front of you drop a gold coin without knowing it. Would you pick up the coin and keep it, or give it back to the man?"

"I would give it back to the man, obviously." Shara said, trying not to feel offended.

He leaned forward in his chair and said in rather a good imitation of her voice: "I don't understand. There's nothing you can gain from helping him and you stand to lose money if you do, so why do it?"

A small smile appeared on her face as she got his point. "Because it's the right thing to do."

"Exactly."

She cocked her head to one side. "I didn't know there were men like you in King Tyso's army."

"There aren't many of us -- and most of them are in the king's guard for obvious reasons -- but there are some."

"That is good to hear." She nodded. "I must ask, how are my fellow handmaidens? They are wonderful women and I would hate to see them fall victim to others in this army."

"They are safe." He replied. "I installed a good man under my command as interim governor of the city. He moved the noble women, ladies-in-waiting, and handmaidens into some housing near the castle. It likely won't be up to the standard the women are used to, but they will be safe, well-fed, and as comfortable as possible given the circumstances."

Shara breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

"I could not sleep at night if I did anything less." He replied and then took another bite.

They both fell silent.

They ate without a word for the next few minutes. She glanced at him occasionally, noting that he was a rather handsome fellow, if somewhat older than she was. He also seemed like a good man, so if she had to be stuck in this dreadful position, she was glad to be stuck with him.

"You're not what I expected." She finally said.

"What were you expecting?"

"Well, King Tyso's army does have a certain reputation." She had never heard anything good about it and the castle gossip made them out to be savages intent on raping and pillaging throughout the whole land. She assumed that was somewhat exaggerated, but also knew there was much truth behind the rumor.

He nodded. "It does, though neither I nor the men in my legion have ever contributed to that reputation."

"I'm afraid that besides a few whispers that you were a capable commander, I've heard nothing of you."

He frowned slightly. "King Tyso has put me in charge of several cities we've captured, and I hoped my dealings with them would've at least softened my reputation."

"Perhaps they did, but not among those who the princess was around."

"What is she like?" Kalus asked. "The princess I mean."

Shara had to resist laughing at the question's irony but decided to answer honestly while being careful to maintain her handmaiden disguise. She purposely hesitated a few moments before speaking and was careful to maintain a slightly 'guarded' tone.

"She's... I think she tries very hard to make her father proud. She loves her father and her country more than almost anything else and wants to be a good princess for them. But she's also..." She hesitated.

"Also?" He prompted.

"She lets her emotions rule her sometimes, though she's often reserved about how she expresses them." She finally replied. "And while I think she usually means well, she can overreact, and that can get her into trouble sometimes. She does love her father and her country though."

"A patriot, I can respect that." He nodded. "What about you?"

"I'm... I'm not so different from her as you might think." She replied.

He made a thoughtful sound but didn't say more.

"You're not going to ask me about the defenses of the king's castle?" She finally said to break the silence.

He shook his head and only spoke when he'd finished chewing. "No. If you're 'not so different' from the princess and she is a patriot, then I wouldn't do you the dishonor nor ask you to betray what you so clearly hold dear."

"You're awfully principled for a man in King Tyso's army."

"You're awfully outspoken for a handmaiden." He countered. "One can sometimes find unlikely people in unlikely places."

She nodded her head in concession.

* * *

Kalus watched the girl as they ate, noting her concern for her fellow handmaidens and that she'd asked about them immediately after learning that there were good men in his army. That spoke well of her character and concern for others. She was a good woman, or at least gave every appearance of being a good woman.

"I would enjoy a bit of entertainment with my meal." Kalus said. "Are you familiar with the game Pente?"

The corners of Katia's mouth edge upwards slightly. "Very."

She clearly was.

The game was played on a leather board with a grid of lines. To win, each player took turns placing colored stones on the grid trying to get five stones in a row either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally while also preventing his opponent from doing the same. However, you could also 'capture' your opponent's pieces if you put two of your pieces on either side of exactly two of your opponent's pieces, and could win by capturing five times.

About midway through their first game -- which was about two minutes in since they usually weren't long games -- he looked at her. "You fight like a woman possessed."

"It's easy." She replied, placing another one of her stones on the board. "I merely imagine that we are dueling armies and I'm fighting for my homeland against an invader." She gave him a challenging look, though there was a hint of reserved playfulness to her tone.

"I can respect that." He nodded, placing one of his stones. "Tria". He said, announcing that he had just gotten three stones in a row, as the rules dictated. The goal wasn't to win by stealth or trickery but by sheer skill. Because of that, you announced "tria" when you had three stones in a row, and "tessera" when you had four in a row.

"Clever." Katia nodded, studying the board for several long moments before not only blocking his tria, but also setting up one of her own. "Tria."

"A good move." He nodded, then placed another stone to make four in a row. "Tessera. This is not the first time that an army from one of our countries has set foot on the other's land. I believe our positions were much reversed a few decades ago."

"A war waged in self-defense is hardly the same." Katia countered as she frowned at the board.

"You can't win." He pointed out. And while he meant the game, it applied to the war too.

"I know." She nodded, then placed one of her pieces to capture two of his, breaking his tessera.

"Tessera." He said, replacing one of the captured pieces on his next move. "Our countries have been trying to conquer each other for centuries. They seem to agree that it's the thing to do."

"That doesn't make it right." She pointed out, then placed another piece to capture two more of his pieces, one of which broke his tessera again."

"Tessera." He said, replacing a piece for the second time. "The ethical question of war; if two countries agree to go to war with one another, is it wrong?"

She frowned, then made her last move, blocking one end of his tessera even though she wouldn't be able to block teh other end. "But my country didn't agree."

"Pente." He said, placing his last piece and winning the game. "Your country implicitly agreed not long ago when they invaded my country in an attempt to conquer."

She frowned as they pulled all their pieces off the board to reset it, then she placed the first piece since the loser always goes first in Pente. "I would rather our countries stopped trying to conquer each other."

He looked up at her and smiled. "As would I. I would prefer that my training blade got more use and my sword was only drawn to oil it. Alas, these are not the times we live in. Your move."

Katia frowned slightly, considered for a moment, and then placed her piece. "A man who desires peace leading an army in war; isn't that contradiction?"

"Yes, but consider that Illuminar commands that we uphold our vows in the Book of Light." He played one of his pieces in response to her move. "I made a vow as a young soldier to serve to the best of my ability; can I do less without standing condemned before the Great God Illuminar?"

She nodded her head in concession, then placed her piece. "Tria."

"I would rather live out my days as a farmer or tradesman, alas the only trade I know well is war." He considered her move for a moment before deciding to counterstrike in his block. "Tria. Perhaps I could teach the sword when the war is finished. How about you? What would you like to do?"

"Beat you at this game." With a smile, she placed her piece between a pair of her pieces and one standing alone. "Tessera."

He looked at the board for a moment; there were no captures available and her tessera wasn't blocked on either end; he couldn't block it. "I concede."

She grinned as they reset the board. "I suppose I wish to be married someday, raise children, and have time to travel and read."

"Oh, what do you like to read?" He asked as he placed his first piece.

"Almost anything except fiction." She replied. "The world is too exciting to waste on reading fantasy stories."

"On the other hand, some like to escape the drudgery of real life with a good story occasionally." He pointed out, then placed a piece. "There is value in a good moral tale, especially for children so they have heroes to aspire to and to emulate. The same is not less true once they are grown."

"I can understand that." She nodded as she took her turn, then made a thoughtful frown. "I never really thought of it like that before." She pursed her lips for several seconds before she spoke again. "Perhaps I shall try fiction again."

He nodded approvingly, glad that she could change her mind about things.

In fact, he found himself tempted to smile or laugh rather a lot, though he restrained that impulse out of habit with his men. He and Katia talked as they played for the better part of an hour and he found her to be an engaging and bright young woman. They covered many a topic and she was knowledgeable about many of them. Even when she didn't know much about a particular topic, she picked things up quickly and was generally clever about her observations. He found himself enjoying her company a lot, and the games with her almost as much.

While he won the majority of the games, he could appreciate her tenacity. She never stopped trying to win, even when there was no hope of doing so. She fought to the very end of every match and never conceded, fighting on even when there was no hope of winning. Further, she was a good sport while playing, regardless of if she won or lost.

She was easily one of the most delightful women he'd ever had the pleasure of speaking with.

* * *

Shara rather enjoyed the games and conversation both, finding him to be unlike the simpering courtiers in her father's court. Kalus was confident but not arrogant and he never tried to impress her. He was blunt and honest without being harsh, and persuasive while remaining open-minded. He was easily one of the most delightful men that she'd ever had the pleasure of speaking with.

He rose after finishing a final game and looked at her. "It would be prudent for you to sleep in my bed tonight."

She opened her mouth to protest, but he raised his hand palm out to stop her. For some reason, she fell silent. He wasn't commanding or overbearing, but suddenly there was something about him that brooked no argument.

"I say this for two reasons." He said. "First, if someone enters the tent to rouse me and finds you sleeping elsewhere, what we've done might be called under suspicion. Second, you would likely catch a cold with the temperature."

She nodded, seeing his point and noticing that it had gotten colder as the sun had gone down.

"Come." He pulled off his boots and then slipped under the blankets fully clothed, making room for her.

She slipped under the covers beside him, and thankfully the bed was wide enough that she didn't need to press up against him. It was wide enough that they could lay side-by-side, but not much wider than that.

"I wish you a pleasant night's sleep." He said, and less than a minute later his breathing changed.

He was asleep.

Shara lay there considering her situation. She was a princess in the bed of a common soldier, though he was uncommonly good. Her virtue was intact, but her honor never would be again. Because of the deception -- which she was grateful for -- no one would ever believe she was a virgin again. Her handmaidens might, but no one else and certainly no man. She supposed she could have another woman examine her to prove it, but she wasn't sure she would be able to live down the shame. She might need to though, because no man would ever marry her otherwise.

Well, no good man.

Nobles were insistent that their wives be virgins, and a woman lying about her virginity was grounds for immediate divorce which would lead to public shame when the reason for the divorce was discovered. But regardless, if word of this night ever reached the ears of her father's court, her honor would be sullied beyond repair.

She rolled onto her side facing away from Commander Kalus.

He had been kind and she had greatly enjoyed his company, but ultimately her situation was bleak no matter what he had done to improve it. She desperately wanted everything to be okay again. She missed her home and family. She wanted to be safe in her own room in her own bed with her own handmaidens nearby. At least they were safe.

She sighed.

She did feel quite warm and realized it was because of the man she shared the bed with. Oddly, there was something comforting about having him there. He was strong, muscular, and clearly a powerful warrior. He seemed to care about her and seemed to be a good man, so perhaps he could keep her safe from the rest of Tyso's army.

At least, that's what she hoped.

* * *

Kalus woke early in the morning while it was still dark. As he did so, he felt something he'd never experienced before; the warm, comforting feeling of a woman snuggled up against him.

He had bedded women before of course, but they were all in his younger days before he'd sworn allegiance to Illuminar. They had all been quick dalliances, many of which required him to sneak away to avoid a sure-to-be irate father. He'd never had the chance to spend the night with a woman in his bed.

It felt good.

Katia was still asleep and seemed to have snuggled up against him while they slept. She was currently using his chest as a pillow and had her arms tucked up against her chest as she nestled against him.

More surprising was his position. He had apparently put his arm around her during the night. His left arm was draped over her back and shoulder protectively, and his left leg was resting over both of hers in an almost possessive way.

Hmm.

He could barely see, but he could just make out her silky amber hair spread out across his chest and over his arm. She was pressed against him like he imagined a loving wife would be pressed against her husband. She was positioned like a woman in love with her man.

It felt good.

She was warm, soft, and leaned on him completely. Her breathing was in tandem with his, her chest rising and falling to the same rhythm. There was something about it that was relaxing; soothing.

Despite that, he had work to do. He always rose early before the men. He believed in leading by example and so he was always the first to start working and the last to stop. He rose before the men and went to bed after them. It was his duty as their commander.

But still...

He looked down at the girl pressed against his side. She was sleeping so peacefully and he hated to disturb her.

A few more minutes.

He could spare a few more minutes to let the girl sleep while he planned his day and said his morning prayers. That would be acceptable. He laid his head back down and closed his eyes. He started whispering his morning prayers but didn't make it halfway through them before the comforting presence in his bed lulled him back to sleep.

* * *

Shara -- Katia -- woke to a new sensation: she was snuggled against a man in bed. She liked the sensation, it felt comforting as she snuggled against the soldier who... who...

What was she doing?

Was she really sleeping with the enemy?

Shame flooded her mind as she considered what her father would think of her. She was literally sleeping with an enemy commander. Her father was a great patriot who loved his country, and here she was -- his only child -- sleeping with the enemy. What would her father think of her sleeping with the man who had sacked her city? Kalus was attacking her father's kingdom and worked for the cruel tyrant who was destroying her entire family's life with an army that went around raping and pillaging at will.

Had she really forgotten that?

The previous night -- which had indeed been wonderful -- had she truly been so relieved to not have her virtue stolen from her that she'd forgotten who he was? He might be a good man, but he was a leader in the army that was conquering her country.

She recoiled.

She struggled to get out from under his arm and extract her legs from under his. The moment she started moving, Kalus was awake in a flash. She barely had time to react before he was on top of her with a knife at her throat.

She froze.

Kalus blinked and shook his head, apparently trying to clear the sleep from his brain. Then an expression of realization crossed his face and he removed the knife.

"My apologies." Kalus said with clear remorse as he nearly leapt off of her. He looked at the knife and tossed it aside, then raise his hands palms extended as if to show that he was now unarmed. He grimaced slightly as he spoke, looking truly appalled at his actions. "A soldier's reflex, as in war you must always be careful for surprise attacks. I am truly sorry."

It took a moment for the terror in Shara's soul to relent enough for her to react. Her heart was racing and she could feel her hands trembling. She felt like her entire body had frozen solid; she couldn't move. She'd just come closer to death than ever before, and at the hand of someone she had hoped would be her protector.

He looked at her with concern. "Say something, Katia."

Katia?

Who was-- Oh, right; that was her name now. She needed to hide her real name because King Tyso -- Kalus's king -- was destroying her country at that very moment. More specifically, she needed to hide her name because he sacked her city and was making war against her father.

"Go away." She said with disgust, then rolled so she wasn't facing him and pulled the covers over her face. She was determined never to speak to him again unless she absolutely had to. Suddenly, all of the blankets were jerked off of her. She yelped as she made to cover herself before remembering that she was still dressed.

"Stand up." Kalus commanded. His entire demeanor had changed almost the instant she had defied him. Instead of being kind and gentle, he was now imposing and authoritative. His tone wasn't caring, it was ordering. He didn't look mad, but he was imposing.

She didn't move.

She wasn't planning on cooperating with him -- the enemy -- ever again. Kalus shrugged, then reached down with one hand, grabbed her upper arm, and pulled her to her feet. His fingers had dug into a pressure point on her arm, and it hurt so much to resist that she stayed standing because trying to move away increased the pressure and it hurt more. It didn't hurt if she didn't fight, but it hurt a lot if she did.

"Let me make this clear." His eyes were serious and his demeanor brooked no argument, yet he didn't look mad; merely serious. His finger was still poised over the pressure point. It didn't hurt now, but it would definitely hurt if she moved much.

She whimpered.

"You will not treat me disrespectfully." He said it as if it was a fact that she must accept. "I won't tolerate it from my men, and I certainly won't tolerate it from you. Feel free to speak your mind. You can tell me that I'm the scum of the earth and that you wish to see me dead; but you will do it respectfully. Do I make myself clear?"

She nodded.

His eyes narrowed and he leaned in slightly. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes." She said quietly.

His expression instantly softened and released her arm. "I'm truly sorry about the knife." He said, and he looked like eh was. "I did not mean to scare you nor to hurt you. Will you please forgive me?"

She stared at him in disbelief.

He had just scolded her like a parent does to a child and now he was asking her forgiveness? She supposed she could forgive him for the knife, but not for invading her father's land. Not for slaughtering her father's people; her people. She couldn't forgive him for that and never would.

She shook her head slightly, hoping it didn't trigger another outburst.

It didn't.

"That is your right." He acknowledged though he looked disappointed.

She stared daggers at him, feeling nothing but shame and embarrassment for how she'd behaved the previous night. She had talked with him like he wasn't an enemy and slept next to him like he wasn't a foe. Worse, she had snuggled up to him like he was a lover or friend, not a man helping to destroy her father's kingdom.

"Speak your mind." He said, though it wasn't a command.

She shook her head and shrank back slightly, afraid of another outburst.

He nodded. "I will not force you to speak, but know that you can. As I said, you can tell me that I'm the scum of the earth and that you wish to see me dead. But if you do it respectfully, I swear there will be no reprisal."

He seemed sincere.

She wasn't sure, it sounded too strange. She'd never heard anyone talk like that. She never heard anyone be that confident. He seemed genuine, but that was a strange thing to say.

"Please, speak your mind." He asked again.

She hesitated, then decided to try. If he did get angry she would have another reason not to like him. She took a deep breath.

"Well sir," she said as respectfully as she could manage. "I think you are scum and I wish you were dead."

He blinked.

He looked surprised, then he looked slightly hurt. She waited for the outburst and half expected him to slap her across the face.

He didn't.

He looked at her for several long seconds, then nodded. "You are entitled to your opinion, though I wish you held a different one." He then put on his boots, called for his squire to bring breakfast, sat down in his chair, and began to recite his morning prayers.

For the next hour, he didn't look at her or speak to her other than tell her she should feel free to eat breakfast or to make sure she was warm and comfortable. He said the minimum to ensure her health and comfort, but nothing more. Otherwise, he left her alone. She didn't get the impression he was ignoring her either. On the contrary, she got the impression he was letting her have space because of what she'd said.

Shara ate her breakfast in silence and then simply sat on the bed. There just wasn't anything else to do. The bruise on her cheek from the night before ached slightly as she chewed, but not too badly. She knew it would be a real shiner and visible to anyone who looked at her.

She thought about her situation, about the man in the tent who she would likely never see again, and she was grateful for that. Somehow, his kindness and the fact that he was respecting her wishes by leaving her alone made her want to dislike him more... but she couldn't. It would be so easy to hate him if he was an unfeeling and uncaring brute.

But he wasn't.

"Come, the king wishes to see us." He said to her, shaking her out of her reverie. She hadn't noticed the herald enter and assumed he'd been carrying orders of some kind.

Commander Kalus exited the tent. She peeked around the flap before following him and saw all the men around him give him a nod of respect, which he returned. She sighed, then walked out of the tent behind him.

Her appearance was instantly greeted with cheers, appreciative comments, and a few wolf whistles. She suddenly felt extremely embarrassed about the noises that had come from the tent last night, and even more so the bruise on her cheek. For some reason, she felt like it marked her as his and she hated that. It felt like the bruise was announcing to the world that he had conquered and made her submit. And here she was, walking meekly behind him like he actually had.

She hated that.

Commander Kalus held up his hand and the noise died down. However, the men were still looking on as if admiring a trophy won by Kalus. They weren't leering though, and she had certainly been gazed upon as a wall ornament before. Thankfully, Kalus's men lacked the creepiness that she often associated with men who looked at her like that.

She followed Kalus through the camp and it was the same everywhere. It was abundantly clear to Shara that he has never paraded a woman through the camp like this before. He may not have been seen in the company of a woman before the way the men were staring.

The entire time, she was acutely aware of her bruised cheek. It seemed to taunt her, to mock her. Regardless of the truth about how she'd gotten it, she knew how it looked; how it was intended to look. Kalus wanted everyone to think she hadn't gotten away with her insubordination. For some reason -- and despite the deception -- Shara didn't feel like she had.

As they reached the ornate flap of the king's tent, Kalus stopped, then turned and looked at her for a long moment.

"I suggest you hold your tongue if you value it; the king isn't known for tolerating the talk of prisoners well."

It didn't seem to be a threat; merely advice. Given Tyso's reputation, it was probably good advice.

She glared at him, but nodded.

* * *

Kalus inwardly fought with himself on whether to correct her for the glare, but he didn't think anyone else had seen it and he didn't want to hurt the poor girl again.

It had hurt when she said she'd hated him, and more so when she wished him dead. However, he could understand how she was so frightened by the knife incident. He hoped she was just overreacting and scared half out of her mind. She had been the most pleasant of women the previous night, so he hoped her attitude this morning would perhaps fade.

He turned and entered the king's tent.

The king was on his makeshift throne, ordering attendants around and making preparations to break camp. Katia stayed behind him and out of sight, though not entirely hidden.

"Ah, Kalus my dear boy. How was your night?" The king boomed jovially.

"Pleasurable my king." Kalus replied truthfully, though he wasn't referring to what the king would assume. He had truly enjoyed waking to find the girl in his arms.

"Good, I assume she was a good lay then?" The king asked.

"I was not disappointed, Your Majesty." Kalus replied, successfully keeping his disgust at the lewd question off his face.

"Let's see the girl then."

Katia slowly stepped out, her head down and hair drawn in such a way as to conceal her face as much as possible.

"Look at me, slave." The king ordered.

Katia didn't move, so Kalus nudged her. Apparently, she hadn't realized that the king often turned prisoners of war into slaves. She looked up at the king hesitantly, shame and embarrassment written all over her face.

"Oh Kalus, she must've done you like a wanton whore the way she's blushing." The king said with a huge smile.

Katia opened her mouth to object, but Kalus cut her off; better the girl's pride was hurt than her body. "I have no complaints, Your Majesty."

The king nodded, but he got a wicked smile on his face as he looked at her again. "Come girl, tell me how it felt, how much you enjoyed it."

The girl drew a sharp intake of breath and looked wide-eyed. She glanced at Kalus, and he gave a slight nod of the head.

"I um... He was... good. Like nothing I've experienced before." She said, then added almost as an afterthought. "Your Majesty."

"Oh, this one has a touch of rebellion in her." The king said, apparently noting the lack of care in the way she addressed him. "I see why you had to beat her."

Kalus nodded but otherwise remained silent. A king should have more decorum than this. This lewd line of questioning was inappropriate for a common soldier, much less a king. Like himself, Katia looked aghast and ashamed all at once. However, the king was either oblivious to the reason for their shared distaste or simply didn't care.

It was probably the latter.

"Kalus you old shrew; you knew she'd be a good lay didn't you?" The king said. "Those three I had last night were barely tolerable. I sent them packing when I was done. I swear, one of them had the loosest pussy I've ever felt." He shook his head as if inviting everyone to share in his disappointment.

Kalus remained silent.

Katia retreated behind him.

The king looked at Kalus with an icy stare, as if insulted he hadn't joined in the joke. The icy stare slowly morphed into a look that wasn't unlike the one he always got when contemplating some ingenious revenge.

That was never good.

"Kalus my dear boy, you've been such a good commander that I'm going to grant you a special dispensation. You've been saying you'd like to start a family when you get back, but there's no time like the present."

"Your Majesty--" Kalus began, but the king raised his hand to cut him off.

"Your tactical brilliance is half the reason this campaign has been so successful and you deserve a reward. So, I'm allowing you to bring a wife along on the campaign trail with you. You just need to choose one." The king's wicked smile grew as he indicated Katia. "Will this woman do? Or shall I give her to the men and send a new woman to your tent every night until you find one that strikes your fancy?"

Kalus kept his expression neutral with difficulty.

The king certainly knew him well. Kalus's rules about the treatment of female prisoners were ironclad because everyone knew his aversion to rape. Yet if he didn't marry Katia, she would be given over to that very thing. The king wasn't giving him much of a choice, but he still had one thing he could try.

"My king, you do me great honor." He said with a bow. "Would it be acceptable to wait until the last castle has fallen? I would not wish to split my attention between the campaign and a new wife."

The king looked confused. "Split attention? What are you talking about? A wife is for breeding and that doesn't even take long. Think of her as some stress relief at the end of the day and a heifer to carry your sons. That's what wives are for after all." He paused. "Okay, they're also good for pleasure, but concubines and whores are better than wives for that."

Kalus inhaled slowly and exhaled slowly; doing both silently. "I only meant--"

"Oh!" The king interrupted and glanced toward the bruise on her cheek. "You meant breaking her in. I understand. I suppose you've never broken a wife in before, have you? It's not hard at all. A riding crop and a steel collar do wonders. Now, should I send for a Luminar to perform the ceremony, or shall the guards take this bitch away and bring another girl for you to try out?"

"The Luminar." Kalus replied heavily.

The king nodded to a nearby attendant, who scurried off.

Kalus stood there, bile rising in his throat at the king's meddling. He'd known King Tyso a long time and his vindictive streak at small slights was one of his least attractive qualities. Well, besides carnal appetites and a lack of self-control when it came to physical pleasures of any sort. Kalus knew better than to display his frustration, but that didn't mean he wasn't imagining giving the king a proper lesson in how to treat another man respectfully.

And then there was the girl herself.

Katia surely wouldn't be pleased with this arrangement, but it was better than being passed around by the men. His own men wouldn't touch her for fear of his own wrath -- he'd made his position on raping captives clear -- but he only commanded a portion of the army.

The rest weren't so restrained.

An attendant came up and whispered something in the king's ear.

"I shall return for your wedding commander, but now I have some urgent business."

The king left with all his attendants following him, leaving Kalus alone with Katia. He turned to look at her and she was looking daggers at him. No, she was looking swords and axes at him. If looks could kill, he would now be standing before the great God of Light, Illuminar Himself.

"Is there something you'd like to say?" Kalus asked.

"You just decided I would marry you without even asking me!" She hissed, the anger and revulsion in her tone were mirrored on her face.

Kalus raised an eyebrow and subtly shook his head; he would lose control of his men if he allowed anyone to address him that way, especially a woman, and double especially if she was to become his wife. "Katia, I will not be spoken to in that manner. You may say whatever you wish to me as long as you do so respectfully. Correct your tone, or I will correct it for you."

For a moment, Katia looked to be on the verge of initiating another short tirade.

Kalus pulled himself up to his full height and took a single small step forward. Doing so put him in her personal space, and he almost towered over her. She looked him square in the throat and was far slighter in build.

Her anger appeared to fizzle out as she realized how much larger and stronger he was.

He hated to intimidate and correct her this way, but he had no good alternative option. If the men learned that a woman was allowed to treat him so disrespectfully, then the men would as well. He would lose control of them and soldiers on the warpath weren't renowned for restraining their baser instincts.

He looked at her impassively. "You can hate me, you can think I am scum, you can wish I was dead. You can pray for Illuminar to strike me with the plague if you wish. All this I will allow and won't stop you because you have a right to your opinion. But if you treat me disrespectfully again, I will teach you a lesson you won't soon forget. Do you understand?"

She didn't look happy, but nodded.

He shook his head. "Do you understand?"

She trembled with anger for a moment and then took a few deep breaths, clearly trying to control herself before she spoke.

"Yes." She said. Her tone wasn't very respectful, but neither was it flagrantly disrespectful. He let it slide, but not without alteration.

"Yes sir" He corrected.

You probably could have boiled an egg on her forehead. She stood there shaking like a leaf and not from fear. She was livid. No, she was beyond livid. However, his imposing size and her situation seemed to keep her temper under control, though only just.

She closed her eyes, took another deep breath, then looked at him again.

"Yes..." She closed her eyes. "...sir." She opened her eyes and stared daggers at him again.

He nodded and took a step back so he wasn't so physically imposing; no need to scare the girl, his betrothed. He got the distinct impression that she wished she was armed and he was not. Well, there was one way to deal with her state of mind, since she probably hadn't thought about it from his perspective.

"Would you have preferred that I sent you away to be passed around the men, sure to be raped by dozens of them by the day's end?"

Her anger seemed to deflate somewhat and she shook her head.

"If you were in my position, would you have done any differently?"

Another shake of the head.

"Then why are you so mad?"

"You could have asked me." She said, then hastily added. "Sir."

He let it slide.

"My dear girl." He said softly. "I would've preferred to ask you. I would've preferred to court my wife properly and ask her father for her hand. I would've preferred a wife who would've been glad to marry me. Alas, I was not given that choice."

She nodded.

His betrothed -- his future wife -- looked at him with a mix of anger and annoyance. She clearly didn't expect him to have such good reasons. Her anger appeared to abate somewhat, but not entirely.

For the first time, he looked at her properly. He wasn't trying to decide if she would try to kill him or calculating how to make it look like they had shared a bed. He just looked at her as a man appraises a beautiful woman.

Her amber hair fell in silky waves down to just above her breasts and framed her face with a soft glow. She had bright eyes, a small mouth, a perfectly cute button nose, and full lips. Further down, her entire body was slender and just shy of delicate. Her breasts matched her form, being on the small side but shapely and well-proportioned. Her hips were appropriately wider than her narrow waist and her legs were long and slender.

She was a very beautiful woman.

Not the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, but certainly beautiful.

He sighed; this wasn't how he wanted to start a family. He was on the campaign trail and didn't want to distract himself from the war. Perhaps, she could simply share his tent and bed without intercourse, and that would mollify her. He hoped so; he had no desire for a wife who would be contrary to him. It seemed prudent to inform her of this as soon as possible.

"Katia, I will be the best husband I can be to you. I swear that--" He stopped as the tent flap opened and the king returned.

"Ah, are you ready my boy? I tell you, there's nothing like having a woman or two in your bed every night. Might help you with that long face and stern disposition."

"Possibly sire." Kalus replied.

Katia remained silent behind him, but he could almost feel the disapproval coming off of her in waves.

The Luminar arrived another minute later. He was a short, fat, balding man who wore the traditional robes of a Luminar; white with a golden seven-pointed sun emblazoned on the chest. He also wore gold rings and necklaces far above his station; evidence of preferential treatment by the king. There was also something seedy about this specific fellow that Kalus had never liked. He got the impression that this particular Luminar indulged in appetites that the great God of Light would never approve of.

"Who is the happy couple that's to be bound in holy matrimony?" The Luminar asked.

The king gestured to Kalus and Katia. "These two, and be quick about it before he changes his mind." He finished with a wink to Kalus.

Kalus kept his expression neutral with some difficulty; the king's joke was not only in poor taste, but it was also downright insulting. There was no other man in the entire camp who would've dared to treat Kalus so disrespectfully.

"And what's her name?" The Luminar asked Kalus with a dismissive wave toward Katia, not even looking at her nor paying any attention to her.

"Katia." Kalus answered.

"Excellent, then we shall begin." The luminar said, and then he began to recite the traditional wedding vows. "Do you, Commander Kalus, with full knowledge and consent, take this woman--" The luminar paused to give Kalus and the king a creepy smile, leaving them in no doubt what he meant by 'take' before continuing. "--to be your wife in the covenant of marriage? Do you swear to keep and provide for her all of your days, committing to treat her with honor, love, and respect in all circumstances to the best of your ability, and allow only death to separate you?"

Kalus took a deep breath.

This was it.

Marriage was nigh indissoluble in the eyes of the Great God Illuminar. If they both said yes, Katia would be tied to him for the rest of their lives. This wasn't exactly what he wanted, but he wasn't willing to allow her to be raped by dozens of men, even if it cost him the happy marriage he desired.

"I do." Kalus replied.

* * *

Shara's heart fell. She had been hoping that Kalus would refuse, or even that the luminar would use her fake name so perhaps she could reveal later that Katia wasn't her real name, and thus possibly get out of the marriage on a technicality.

Alas, it wasn't to be.

The luminar apparently didn't consider her name worth mentioning and Kalus had said yes. She couldn't even use the fact that they didn't have her father's permission to nullify the marriage since she was a prisoner of war, and a man could legally marry a prisoner without her father's consent. All that remained now was her side of the vows. She would be expected to stand there in yesterday's clothes and bind herself to a man she was beginning to despise.

Okay, not quite despise.

He had been far too good for her to truly despise him, but she disliked him because he was the enemy. Kindness notwithstanding, nothing could make up for his part in conquering her father's kingdom. Nothing. She was determined to hate him until the day she died. It might be hard because of how good he had been to her, but she was determined to try.

The luminar turned to her. "Do you, with full knowledge and consent, give yourself to this man to be his wife in the covenant of marriage? Do you swear to follow and obey him in everything--" he paused to leer at her, leaving her in no doubt about what he meant by 'everything'.

She shuddered.

This couldn't be happening. She felt her eyes begin to grow watery and her throat tight.

The luminar continued. "--and keep yourself only for him for all of your days, committing to treat him with honor, love, and respect in all circumstances to the best of your ability, and allow only death to separate you?"

This was it.

The moment of truth.

She had to say yes. If she didn't... She shuddered again. She didn't even want to think about the fate that awaited her if she said no. But if she said yes, she would be bound to this man for the rest of her life.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

She was supposed to be wearing a perfectly clean, white dress with her mother there fussing over her clothes and hair. There were supposed to be hundreds of guests waiting and her father to give her away. Most of all, a handsome man she loved waiting to marry her. It wasn't supposed to be like this.

She looked at Kalus and blinked several times. That finally pushed a single tear out of her eye as she resigned herself to her fate. All thoughts of a happy marriage fled from her mind. This would be something to survive and endure, not to find happiness in.

"I do." She whispered.

It felt like her heart was being ripped into a thousand pieces and crushed at the same time. Inwardly, she cursed the king, she cursed Kalus, she cursed their whole damn army, she cursed the circumstances that had brought her here; she cursed everything. Save Illuminar Himself, she hated the whole damn world.

"Then by the power vested in me by Illuminar, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Kalus, you may kiss your bride."

Shara turned to face Kalus, more out of habit from the million times she'd imagined these words than anything else. She could feel that single tear silently snaking down her cheek. It wasn't supposed to be like this; a wedding wasn't supposed to make the bride cry. It wasn't supposed to make anyone cry unless they were happy tears.

Kalus looked down at her. His eyes widened slightly as he saw her tear, then his expression softened. He gave her a sympathetic look, then reached up and very gently, very softly, and very carefully wiped the tear from her cheek.

Why?

She didn't understand; why was he being so nice?

Kalus gently -- almost lovingly -- brushed a few errant strands of her amber hair out of her face and tucked them behind her ear. His expression was strange; at once sad and comforting, yet also displeased and disappointed. She hoped he wasn't disappointed in her, though it made no sense for her to think that. Yes, he was now her husband, but she was determined to not care what he thought. She might be forced to obey him but her mind was her own. She would never let his opinion influence hers.

Of that, she was determined.

She looked down, not wanting to see her husband's face anymore. She could barely stand the sight of him. She desperately wanted to hate him, but couldn't; he'd been too nice to her. She settled for extreme dislike instead.

He reached down, and using the side of his index finger gently touched the underside of her chin. He applied gentle but inexorable pressure, lifting her head so her lips were presented to him. He looked into her eyes, then began to lean forward.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

Her first kiss was supposed to be special; magical. It was supposed to be with someone she loved, not a man she barely knew and wanted to hate.

He was inches away.

She held her breath. She almost wanted to close her eyes, but didn't want to give anyone the impression she was enjoying this. She kept her eyes open and unblinking, staring daggers at her husband, who was coming in for their first kiss.

Their lips met.

His lips were surprisingly soft as they pressed gently into hers. He made more than light brushing contact, but he wasn't forceful either. The kiss was firm but gentle; like the man himself. It lasted barely a second and she didn't find the sensation wholly unappealing, the man who gave it to her notwithstanding.

He stood up straight.

"There you are my boy!" the king said. "Now you've got a wench to warm your bed at night, and I know you'd never enjoy her fully without the marriage." He said the last part as if it was an afterthought, like marriage was something barely worthy of his attention.

"Sire." Kalus nodded his head.

"And the bride is--" The king stopped as he finally looked at her, obviously noticing wetness on her cheek from her the tear that had fallen. "What's wrong with you woman?" The king said loudly. "Do you know how many girls would kill to be in your place?"

Shara remained silent and looked down.

The king shook his head. "Stupid girl; I'll give you something to cry about."

He reached his hand out and Shara flinched. She closed her eyes, waiting to be grabbed, struck, or something equally unpleasant.

Nothing happened.

She cracked one eye to see the king's hand poised for a back-handed slap and inches from her face...

...and Kalus's hand closed around the king's wrist.

"If it pleases Your Majesty." Kalus said with a tone of extreme respect. "I would ask that you not strike my wife."

The king looked at Kalus like he was a favorite pet that had suddenly turned and bit him. The king then seemed to realize just how outmatched he was. Kalus wasn't a giant by any means, but he was several inches taller than the king. The king was slightly overweight while Kalus was fit and trim. Judging by his appearance, he could've competed in any number of athletic competitions and not fared poorly.

The king jerked his hand away with difficulty. Shara got the distinct impression that Kalus had held on for the tiniest fraction of a second to let the king know he was the stronger of the two.

"How dare you lay a hand on your king!" He thundered.

"My apologies my king, I thought only of you." Kalus said with a deep bow.

"What the fuck are you talking about!?" The king roared.

"Illuminar says in the Book of Light that no man may lay his hand on another man's wife, except in a properly adjudicated punishment for a crime, as the luminar here can confirm."

Kalus gestured to the luminar, who looked like he was caught flat-footed. Shara guessed he didn't know the Book of Light half as well as Kalus. However, the luminar nodded his head, probably not wanting to look ignorant.

"I know how pious you are my king." Kalus continued. "I know you wish to do right by Illuminar in all things; therefore I was merely attempting to help you walk the path of light, as The Book of Light also says."

The king spluttered for a moment. He had been completely outmaneuvered and everyone knew it. The king's attendants, the few advisors present, the luminar, and the few other people in the king's tent as well.

Everyone.

Shara herself was stunned.

She couldn't believe that Kalus had defended her like that. Yes, they were married, but he had just defied his king for her sake. Laid his hand on his king for her sake; men from Tyso's country just didn't do that. They had a reputation for being brutes. Why had he done that? It didn't make sense. She thought back to the previous night and his insistence on doing right. Was he truly that serious about it?

The king finally seemed to get control of himself and then put on a genial smile that didn't reach his eyes. "You are so right my boy. Good catch there. Now, run along and play with that new wife of yours; I'm giving you the entire day off, free from your usual duties. Take her to bed and get started on that family."

Kalus bowed and made to leave.

"Oh, and one more thing Kalus." The king said with a wicked smile on his face. "I wouldn't do this for most of my commanders, but I will for you. If she's not heavy with child by the end of the year, I'll assume she's ill-fit for breeding and find you another wife... you know, to make sure you get that family."

Shara didn't miss the veiled threat. She wasn't sure if the king meant he would give Kalus a second wife in addition to her, or -- more likely -- that she would be taken from Kalus.

She didn't want to find out.

Kalus bowed, then turned and strode out of the tent with Shara following close behind.

* * *

Kalus strode through the camp purposefully, trying to keep his rage out of every step. He wasn't sure how successful he was. Soldiers who usually greeted him with a smile and a laugh moved out of his way without a word. At this precise moment, he didn't care.

His wife followed closely behind him, probably realizing that she had no friends, allies, or protection in this camp save for him alone. He would have to remedy that. A few words to his men would pass the word around camp that anyone who laid a finger on her would answer to him. That would keep her safe from anyone save the king.

The king...

Kalus growled low in his throat as he reached his tent and held the flap open for his new bride. She entered, but gave him a wide berth while doing so. He shook his head at himself; she shouldn't be suffering from the king's actions or his mood. Once inside, Katia looked around and finally settled into the chair next to the desk.

Kalus took several deep breaths. "I am not mad at you."

Katia seemed to relax slightly. She had been shrinking away from him and he wanted to reassure her now before he broke the news to her. He guessed that she didn't fully understand the malice behind the king's threat and what they must do to avoid it coming to pass.

He sincerely hoped that she wouldn't hate him once he explained what they must do.

He took another deep breath, then turned and knelt next to the chair so his head was level with hers. "I wish to apologize for my king's conduct and for placing you in this position. I never wished to cause you harm in any way."

She nodded, though from her expression she still wasn't very pleased with him and she clearly had something on her mind.

"Speak." He said.

"I..." She hesitated. "I'd rather not say."

He considered her for a moment and then nodded. The poor girl had been through enough in the last twenty-four hours. This time yesterday, she was probably waking up to the alarm bells being rung in the city. Less than a day later, she was married and had caught the ire of the invading king.

"Very well." He said.

He stood and began pacing. The king had been very specific. If she wasn't visibly pregnant by the year's end -- a mere seven months away -- then the king would try to take her from him. He couldn't let that happen of course. However, she would need to be pregnant in the next month or two to ensure she was 'heavy with child' by the end of the year.

The only way to ensure it happened was for him to take her to bed every night for the next several months, save when she bled. He knew she wouldn't like the idea; she would hate it. He had little fondness for the idea either, given that the girl would be less than willing to share his bed. He knew the king had known this, which was probably why he had issued the threat.

King Tyso was malicious, not stupid.

He had purposely planned to ruin Kalus's marriage just because he had made him look foolish once. It galled his soul to undertake what must be done, but it would probably save her life if the king was as angry with him as he suspected.

He hoped Katia would understand.

* * *

Shara was aware that something was going on. She didn't know what, but there was a subtle shift in Kalus's body language that she couldn't place. He seemed reluctant and angry, but it wasn't directed at her. Or at least, it didn't seem to be.

Kalus stood. "Come, I need to introduce you to my men."

Shara followed him out of the tent. Outside, half a dozen men were playing some sort of game involving dice. When Kalus appeared, they immediately stood and saluted him.

"At ease." Kalus said returning the salute. He beckoned her forward, placing her in front of him before putting both his hands on her shoulders. "This is Katia. The king graciously decided I should marry and had the ceremony performed less than a hour ago." His tone somehow left no doubt in anyone's mind that he had been forced into the situation.

"Katia is my wife." Kalus continued. "As such, I will treat any kindness toward her as kindness toward me, and respond accordingly. Any malice that befalls her..." He let that hang in the air for just a moment for effect. "...I will also treat as malice toward me, and respond accordingly. Spread the word among the men."

Shara stood there and somehow felt like she had just been claimed. She knew that wasn't his intent, but it felt like Kalus had just announced that she was his property. In the back of her mind, she knew he was doing this for her protection but she still bristled at it.

The men all seemed to break out in huge smiles. A few congratulated him on his marriage some looked at her appreciatively, and still others just sat there with their mouths open, like they couldn't believe their ears.

One of the men laughed, then looked at her with a mock-serious expression. "You seem like too nice a girl to be stuck with a face like that." He jerked his thumb toward Kalus and everyone laughed. Even Kalus cracked a smile.

"At least she doesn't have to put up with your ugly mug." Another one said to the man, and the rest of the men laughed again.

Shara relaxed slightly.

Unlike the other men around the camp who leered and made her uncomfortable, these men seemed nicer; more refined. Well, not 'refined', perhaps just less brutish and threatening. Several had looked her up and down, but she didn't get a creepy vibe from them.

She gave them a small curtsey.

"Oh Kalus, you've got a real lady there." Another man said appreciatively.

"I do indeed." Kalus replied as he looked at her. There was something sincere and genuine in his tone that aggravated her; it was a lot harder to hate him when he was being nice to her.

He gave her a strange look, then spoke. "Bearing in mind that we have no sidesaddles here, would you care for a bit of riding? Perhaps it will take your mind off of the present situation."

She nodded.

Kalus looked at the men. "Would anyone be willing to volunteer--" he began, but several of the men cut him off to volunteer their horses for her to ride.

Kalus stopped by his tent for a minute to grab some saddle bags and then led her a short way to a makeshift pen for the horses. He whistled and a large war horse trotted up instantly. He was a magnificent creature, very large, and clearly high energy. Kalus slipped a saddle on him then entered the pen and led out another horse.

This horse was much smaller and not so high-strung, but he was also still clearly a true war horse. He whinnied and half-reared when he was led up to her. He seemed determined to make trouble for Kalus, and that endeared the horse to her somewhat.

"Augustus is strong, but not as wild as he looks." Kalus said as he fastened a saddle onto the horse and put the halter with the bit into his mouth. "He will not throw you, but he may not be as pleasant to ride as the steeds you are likely accustomed to.

Shara nodded, then walked over to the front of the horse and looked him in the eye.

"Hello Augustus." She said.

The horse gave her an appraising look and nickered. Somehow, she got the feeling that he didn't want to be here anymore than she did. The horse looked back at her and some sort of understanding seemed to pass between them.

They would get along just fine.

"Could I remove the bit and ride bareback?" She asked.

Kalus stared at her as if he didn't understand the words coming out of her mouth. "That wouldn't be wise; he's a warhorse and difficult to control under the best of circumstances."

"You said he wouldn't throw me, so I should be fine."

"Aye, but there's a difference between being thrown and having control of your horse. If Augustus were to take off, the king would most likely use it as an excuse to do you great harm. I can't allow that."

"Why?"

"You are my wife." He said simply.

She nodded and mounted Augustus.

"You will follow my lead." He said, stating it simply as a fact. "Don't attempt to run or I might not be able to protect you from the king."

She bristled internally, but still nodded.

* * *

Kalus rode his horse away from the city they'd just sacked in the direction of a nearby forest. It was a beautiful morning. The sun had risen above the treetops and the sky was cloudless blue. He glanced behind him at his new bride and thought her beauty compared favorably with the stunning sunrise. How he wished he could have a simple ride planned instead of what they must do while away from camp.

He led her into the forest and down to a small clearing by a creek he had found while scouting several days ago. The clearing was covered in wildflowers and seemed untouched by human hands. He hoped the setting would help the girl relax in preparation for what must be done.

"We'll stop here for a while." He said, then dismounted and used a long rope to tie his horse to a tree, close enough to the water that the majestic animal could drink if he wished.

Katia nodded and likewise dismounted and tied her horse to another tree. He held out his hand, and she looked at it for several seconds before looking at him.

"I would prefer not to hold your hand." She said, then probably to ensure she was being respectful added. "Sir."

"Very well." He nodded. "Also, you may use my name if you wish."

"I would prefer not to." She replied.

He looked at her, thinking that her refusal to use his name seemed more like an attempt to keep some emotional distance between them than anything else.

"As you wish." He sighed.

She walked out among the flowers, picking a few and sniffing them. She paid him almost no attention. He was sure it was intentional, but he didn't have the heart to force his company on her. Not with what lay ahead that morning before they returned to camp.

Inwardly he cursed the king for putting him in this position. He was fairly sure that Katia would have made a wonderful wife if he had been able to court and marry her properly. Alas, to save her life he would soon have to do something which would likely irreparably damage their relationship.

King Tyso surely knew how to inflict misery.

* * *

Shara tried to ignore Kalus's presence, which was the only blight on this incredibly beautiful field. He surely didn't know this, but she had often come to this exact field because it was a short ride from the castle. She preferred the wildflowers to the cultivated ones in the castle gardens, though the latter were beautiful too.

She spent an hour in peace gathering a small bouquet of wildflowers that brought some joy to her heart.

"Katia." Kalus called after an hour of leaving her in peace. Hanging her head, she returned to him holding her bouquet behind her back. She didn't want to share it with him.

He had spread a faded red blanket on the ground and patted an area near him, but not so near that she would have to touch him if she didn't want to. She sat down as far away from him as possible, still trying to keep the bouquet out of sight.

"You needn't hide them you know." He said. "From what I could tell, it's a beautiful bouquet."

"Thank you." She said almost automatically. Her parents and teachers had drilled good manners into her so deeply that apparently she couldn't stop herself even when confronted with her mortal enemy... who was also her husband.

Kalus sighed.

He seemed to be working up the courage to do or say something, something which was clearly taking a toll on him. "Do you know why I brought you out here?"

Warning bells started going off in her mind. "No, why?"

"I assume you caught the king's threat?"

She nodded.

"He will make good on it. If you aren't 'heavy with child' by the year's end, he may well try to take you from me."

"Try?" She asked.

"I would not let him because you are my wife. I would likely either die or be imprisoned for fighting my king. He is vindictive enough to have his men do unspeakable things to you in front of my eyes before he kills you."

She shuddered.

"Indeed." He said somberly. "This I cannot allow. I don't think my king realizes that my duty is to my wife before him. Before it was my highest duty to obey Illuminar and then my king, but a man's duty to protect his wife overshadows his duty to obey his king."

Shara didn't know what to make of that. He seemed genuine, but she couldn't believe he would fight the king for her especially when he knew he couldn't win. Although, he had protected her from him once already when he had tried to slap her.

"That doesn't make any sense." She said.

He seemed surprised. "Would you rather I put the king first?"

"No, I meant why would you fight the king when you know you would lose?"

"You are my wife." He said as if that explained everything. "But I wish to avoid being put in that position because it will certainly lead to you being brutally raped and tortured before being murdered. Therefore, you must be 'heavy with child' before the year's end; just seven months away."

The full impact of his words hit her just then.

She looked at the blanket, noting for the first time the faded red color which would conceal...

She jumped up. "You... you want to... to..."

He sighed heavily. "It's either that or know for certain that the woman I swore to protect will die by the king's hand."

"But we don't have to, not now." She pleaded.

"There's no guarantee you will be large enough to divert his ire if we wait."

Shara put her arms over her womb protectively. She couldn't allow this man -- this enemy soldier who'd sacked her city -- to put his child inside of her. She shuddered at the thought, which disturbed her even more than the idea of how it would get inside of her.

She shuddered again.

"Katia, I wish it wasn't so." He said. "I wish we'd met under different circumstances. I wish that I would've been able to court you properly and ask your father for your hand in marriage. I wish that you would've been looking forward to this instead of dreading it as your countenance and stance suggest."

She stood there stunned because he sounded sincere.

Regardless, there was no way she could surrender her virtue to him like that. To spread her legs for an enemy soldier would mean betraying her father and her kingdom. It would be tantamount to treason It would mean forever tying herself to a mortal enemy of her father, family, and country. It didn't matter if he was sincere. It didn't matter if he was a good man, after what he'd done to her family and kingdom, the idea of doing... that with him made her skin crawl.

"I won't." She said quietly. "I fought you before and I'll fight you again."

He nodded. "You did and were right to do so because we weren't yet wed. Now that we are, would you refuse your husband?"

She narrowed her eyes. "You may be my husband, but only because I was forced."

"Was I less forced?"

She blinked. "What?"

"Was I less forced to marry you than you were forced to marry me?"

"No." She admitted as her anger deflated slightly. "But you can't possibly expect me to let you take my virtue."

"I would prefer you offered it, but we have little choice in the matter."

She scoffed and opened her mouth to retort, but he held up his hand.

"Watch your tone Katia." He said, suddenly serious. "Speak your mind, but speak it respectfully."

She took a deep breath and managed to keep most of the vitriol out of her tone. "I would never disgrace myself by letting you do..." She shuddered. "...that to me."

His voice softened. "Here are your options. You can either give me your virtue today or have it forcibly taken from you some months down the road. And it will be forcible."

"I..." She hesitated; neither option sounded appalling.

"Let me be clear." He continued. "King Tyso will have many men -- likely dozens of them -- use you abominably, brutally, and in whatever way..." He glanced toward her butt. "...or hole they wish. They will not be gentle."

She shuddered.

She'd heard stories about what could happen when men went 'back there' and weren't gentle or careful. She'd heard that things could tear and that the resulting infection was a horrible way to die. A talented mage could use magic to heal the damage of course, but an infection could be far more deadly and wasn't so easily dealt with.

He went on. "You will be treated like a piece of meat, passed from man to man until the king tires of seeing my pain from your ruination. It could last hours and you won't survive it. Even if you did, he would have you executed afterward. You can endure that and die, or we can start attempting to make a child here and now."

Shara's eyes went wide.

Her brain locked up slightly as his words hit her. She hadn't thought about what it would mean if...

She shuddered.

* * *

Kalus watch his new bride carefully as he finished his description of what would happen to her if he didn't put a child in her. He didn't want to scare the poor girl, but she needed to know what would likely happen if she refused him now. He would've preferred she was excited and looking forward to this. Alas, the king had ruined option that completely.

His virgin bride seemed torn.

She kept looking at him nervously and then closing her eyes and shuddering. Then she would look toward the direction of the camp and do the same. She looked so small, like she was unconsciously trying to make herself look small and unthreatening while she protectively covered her stomach and breasts, as if having her arms there could prevent what needed to happen.

Kalus wished he could prevent it. Katia was an extremely pleasant girl and she was taking this all rather well. He'd been expecting a lot more arguing and convincing. She clearly saw the problem, but just as clearly didn't like the solution.

"I don't want to." She finally whispered. "I really don't want..." She looked at him with something close to revulsion.

That hurt more than he thought it would.

"I don't want to either." He finally said.

A strange expression flicked across her face for barely a moment, then her worry returned as if nothing had happened.

He continued. "But those are the choices before us. I could never stand before Illuminar at the judgment and say I didn't do everything possible to keep my wife safe."

Her eyes suddenly looked a bit watery.

"This is not how it's meant to be." He sighed, her expression having a strange effect on him. He wanted to comfort her but didn't feel she would accept it. "This is meant to be a joyous union that we both look forward to. However, the king didn't leave us that option."

She stared at him.

She flopped down on the blanket, sitting there with her shoulders slumped and downcast eyes.

He didn't blame her.

He let Katia collect herself for a minute, wanting to comfort her but knowing she wouldn't accept such comfort from him. She looked so small and frail; the bright spirit within her seemed to be slightly diminished and he hoped it was only temporary. He doubted she would bounce back quickly, but hoped she would eventually.

She surprised him.

She looked up at him after a minute or two. She still looked anguished but there was a fire behind her eyes, a steely resolve that seemed as pure as iron and just as strong. He was surprised; he wouldn't have thought a mere handmaiden capable of such resolve.

"It's better to be known by only one man than many." She said in a voice that wavered slightly, though her eyes were resolute. "I will do... do that, with you here today."

"I'm glad you chose so."

She glared at him, probably thinking disparaging thoughts. "If we must do this, can we get it over as quickly as possible?"

"It doesn't work that way for women." Kalus replied. "They take more time and attention to warm up properly."

"I have no desire to 'warm up'." She replied. "I know that a man can impregnate a woman even if she isn't 'warmed up' as you call it. I'm not naïve; I hear other women talk."

"I would rather you enjoy it as much as possible." Kalus said.

She shook her head. "I don't want to enjoy it, not at all. If it must be done to me, so be it; but I will take no pleasure in it."

"That is truly your wish?"

She nodded.

"I have some cooking oil in my saddle bags; perhaps that would suffice if you are determined on that course."

"I am." She said resolutely.

He could tell that she wasn't nearly as sure of herself as she was making herself out to be. However, at least she wasn't fighting him on this.

"Very well, then remove your dress."

She shook her head. "You don't need access to my entire body, merely my..." She faltered and blushed. "Pulling up the skirt should be enough."

"You are a virgin." He said. "Should some of your blood get on the dress it could give last night's charade away."

"Then I shall pull it up to my waist and hold it. Surely the blood would not travel that far."

"Very well." He said.

She was being very businesslike about this. It seemed uncharacteristic of her and probably a reaction to the stress.

"Very well, pull up your dress and lay back."

She glared at him, then pull up the back of her simple dress so it was bunched around her waist, then leaned back so it was under her lower back. The front still kept her covered and her legs were quite closed.

"You'll need to spread your legs for me."

She closed her eyes, steeled up her face, and then slowly and reluctantly spread them. The treasure underneath was still hidden by the front of her dress. She opened her eyes when it was done and took a few deep breaths.

Kalus stood and removed his boots and then his pants, exposing his mostly flaccid cock to the air. He didn't find what was going on the least bit arousing, which accounted for his lack of hardness. He grabbed the oil from the saddlebag, poured a little onto his hand, and covered his cock with it. He turned toward her and she saw him.

Her eyes bulged.

Kalus had always been a shower, not so much a grower. The girl was apparently shocked by his size even though he wasn't fully grown. He wasn't particularly large, but he didn't have anything to be ashamed of either. The incredulous look in her eyes as she looked at his size while not at full mast certainly didn't hurt his ego.

* * *

'It won't fit.' Was Shara's first thought.

She had heard that men could be large, but this man was huge. He was much thicker than her finger, or even two of her fingers. Despite the situation and even though she really didn't want to do this, she felt a tiny itch in her loins at seeing one for the first time, especially one so huge.

As Kalus knelt and started to approach, she felt her legs almost automatically start closing.

He sighed. "This will not work unless your legs are spread."

Shara closed her eyes and tried to open her legs again. It happened only slowly. He knelt between them and began to reach for her dress. She forced herself to keep her arms at her sides as he did so.

He grabbed the hem and began to lift.

She closed her eyes and looked away as -- for the first time in her life -- a man saw her slit. She could feel her cheeks grow hot and she wanted to hide. The only thing that kept her there and not fleeing was Kalus's description of what would happen if he didn't put a child in her. She couldn't bear the thought of that happening, though this was hardly a pleasant alternative.

Kalus made an appreciative noise and she peeked.

She saw his... his 'thing' start to grow slightly and cringed. How much bigger could it get?

He leaned forward and she suddenly felt very claustrophobic. He was too close and she tried to close her knees, but he was in the way and they just ended up gripping his sides.

"I can't do this." She said. "You're too close."

Kalus sat up and gave her an appraising look. "Too close?"

She nodded as she pushed her dress down. Oddly, the wind created by this action seemed to reveal a slight wetness as she covered herself back up.

"Or maybe too personal." She clarified. "Isn't there another way we could do this?"

He nodded. "Turn over on your hands and knees."

She shuddered. "You mean, like how animals do it? Isn't that just..." She shuddered again. "That's so... so..."

Shara fought an internal war with herself. On the one hand, that did sound easier because she wouldn't need to face him or see him. On the other hand, doing like the animals seemed so... so dirty. So debasing, so disgraceful.

He sighed. "You won't have to see me, as you'll be facing away."

She hesitated.

"And you won't need to spread your legs as much." He added.

She nodded and rolled over on her hands and knees, feeling like she was about to be bred like some cow on a farm. Oddly, that thought had the opposite effect that she thought it would. For some reason, a tiny part of her liked that idea. It liked that a man was about to take her as a stallion takes a mare. She shook her head trying to clear it; those were not the thoughts of a lady, especially a princess.

She felt him approach behind her and closed her eyes. She lowered her head to the ground and buried her face in her arms. Only then did she realize that doing so effectively stuck her butt in the air as if in invitation.

She blushed.

She would've been back on all fours in an instant at this realization, except that would mean uncovering her face -- which was buried with her arms -- and she didn't think she could do that. She felt like a cheap whore offering herself to be bred so her owner wouldn't throw her out in the street. She felt a burning shame course through her at this thought, but oddly it seemed to fan a tiny fire in her that was concentrated around her loins.

She felt her skirt being lifted and set on her lower back. Moments later, she felt the gentle breeze on her bare butt. She knew her thighs, butt, lower back, and slit were exposed to him.

If a person could die of shame or embarrassment, she would've right then.

Then she felt his hand.

She felt his rough, masculine hand on her bare butt and flinched, but didn't move away. It rested on her butt, with his fingers curving around to the side of her hips.

She felt a tingle in her loins.

No, not quite her loins; it was concentrated around her slit.

"Do you still wish me to be quick?" He asked. "You could enjoy this if I took more time."

She lifted her head enough to speak. "As quick as possible." She buried her face in her arms again.

"Very well." He replied.

Moments later she felt something large -- something massive -- touch the entrance of her virgin slit.

"I shall be quick as you requested, but I shall go slowly at first so you have as little pain as possible."

Shara almost said 'thank you', then realized what she would be thanking him for and remained silent. She didn't even nod her head.

He pushed.

She winced, though not from pain; from an altogether different sensation. He was huge; certainly bigger than what she'd seen before. Could it possibly have gotten bigger?

When she winced, he stopped. "There will be some pain, but I will try to minimize it. Here, this will help."

She felt him leave and a small part of her was almost disappointed. She had seen a stallion breed a mare before. And while her nurse had immediately ushered her away, she knew what was about to happen to her. Her body seemed to know too and it didn't seem to agree with Shara's assessment of the situation.

Kalus returned and she felt something cool drip onto her slit. Moments later, she felt his finger's touch, gently and tenderly rubbing what felt like oil all over her slit.

She froze.

Her brain seemed to have locked-up processing the new sensations that were radiating out from her slit. His fingers were strong, but also gentle. He carefully, almost tenderly spread oil all over her virgin slit. A little bit of a breeze had arisen, and she could feel it against her now well-oiled maidenhead.

She was ashamed that some of that wetness might not be from the oil.

Kalus rested his strong, masculine hand on her butt again, and again she felt something massive at the entrance of her slit.

"Ready?" He asked.

She managed to nod, though some part of her body -- a part she'd never felt before and didn't know what to do with -- seemed to scream 'yes'.

He pushed.

She bit the blanket to stop herself from crying out.

He felt massive.

She felt like someone was trying to force a log between her legs. She grabbed the blanket with her hands to try and brace herself against him. It took a moment for her to realize that she had instinctively braced herself for him. She felt a rush of shame as she realized she was actively making it easier for him to penetrate her...

And he did.

She winced as for the first time in her life, she felt a man's cock -- or anything for that matter -- spread her nether lips, though he wasn't fully inside yet. It was the strangest sensation she had ever felt; simultaneously extremely strange, slightly uncomfortable, and mildly pleasurable...

She shook her head.

She wasn't going to enjoy this. Ever. She was only doing this to avoid a horrible fate. Feeling this powerful, masculine man enter her most private sanctum was merely the lesser of two evils. She wasn't going to enjoy it. She would never enjoy--

He pushed more.

She opened her mouth in a silent scream, but not one of pain. It was a bit uncomfortable, but he had thoroughly doused both of them in oil. She could feel his slick cock spread her virgin slit, and while she wanted to resist him, it seemed that some part of her had other ideas.

He bumped against her hymen, and he hadn't even slid the head fully inside yet.

"Oh God no." She whimpered quietly into the blanket. This was it. If he went any further she wouldn't be a virgin anymore and all chance of marital happiness to a good noble would be gone... then she remembered that she was already married.

She bit her lip and braced herself.

"This will hurt slightly, but it will hurt less if I take some time to prepare you." Kalus said, repeating his earlier offer.

She shook her head.

"Did you still want me to go as quickly as possible?"

She nodded.

He pushed forward and she felt a sharp pinch. The pain made her flinch and she tried to jerk forward and away, but since he was holding her hips she couldn't. On instinct and completely without thinking, she jerked backward instead... which had the effect of making him sink fully inside of her.

She hissed and felt herself clench.

He didn't move and neither did she.

"Are you alright?" He asked, still not moving.

"No." She snapped into her arms, but he probably didn't hear her.

"I'm sorry Katia." He said softly.

She lifted her head and swallowed hard. She opened her mouth to reply, but couldn't think of anything to say. She hesitated several seconds before she spoke. "Please just finish."

She put her head back down.

"As you wish." He said.

He started moving inside of her. Since he was buried to the hilt, he started withdrawing and a tiny part of Shara's brain protested fiercely. She steeled her will and made no move or sound. She wasn't going to reveal how her body was responding, not to him.

He was almost entirely out when he stopped and pushed slowly back in. He was probably going slowly for her benefit, but he needn't have bothered. Her body seemed to enjoy what she hated.

She was laying there, butt in the air as if offering herself to be used by him. She was on her knees with her face touching the ground like some animal who was about to be bred. She was letting a man she hated put his child in her and wasn't even fighting him on it. Instead, she was almost enjoying it...

Almost.

After a few more tortuously slow thrusts, Kalus began to speed up. She could feel his hips impacting hers and even his sack hitting her slit. It felt so lewd and degrading to be taken like this, and yet it had been her idea. She wasn't even naked. He had merely flipped up her skirts to take her. She was interchangeable with any other woman of her rough size and skin tone at this point; he wouldn't know the difference with as little of her as he could see.

And that was her 'out'.

She imagined for a moment that it wasn't her. She imagined that Kalus was thrusting in and out of another fertile teen so she didn't have to feel him inside of her. She imagined it was another woman -- a blonde perhaps -- who was bent over like this and wantonly offering her virtue to her man, letting herself be impregnated by her strong, masculine husband.

She couldn't enjoy this, but the blonde girl in her place could.

The blonde girl moaned softly as Shara kept silent. The blonde girl started thrusting backward slightly to meet Kalus's thrusts and drive him deeper inside of herself while the princess remained motionless. The blonde girl reveled in the sensations coursing through her body while the king's daughter did her best to imagine they were happening to someone else.

In her mind's eye, she saw the blonde girl lift herself and shimmy out of her dress so her entire naked body was exposed to Kalus. She imagined his abject lust as he gazed at her own -- no, the blonde girl's -- naked form for the first time. She imagined his eyes roving over the blonde's unsullied flesh, running his hands wherever they wanted to go. The blonde was thoroughly enjoying herself while Shara tried not to think of what was happening to her.

It didn't work.

Slowly but surely, she could feel something starting to build inside of her. She wasn't sure what it was, but she knew it was being caused by Kalus's thrusting deep inside of her. He hadn't been doing it long and yet she was already reacting. Her body -- no, the blonde's body -- was already begging for more.

He suddenly started thrusting much faster for several moments, then pushed himself deep inside of her -- deeper than he had been before -- and groaned slightly.

She felt a burst of warmth inside of her.

It was done.

He had promised to be as quick as possible and she had wanted that. But now, she -- no, the blonde girl -- wished that he had gone on a little longer. The pressure that had been building to a boiling point receded to a slow simmer. She imaged that he had continued with the blonde, taking his time as she encouraged him to do so. She imagined that he had thrust inside of her for--

He pulled out.

She nearly groaned in frustration. For the blonde of course, not herself; she didn't want this at all.

Moments later, she felt a soft cloth being pressed to her slit.

He was cleaning her.

She felt extremely embarrassed all of a sudden. He shouldn't be doing that, not after they had done... that. The cloth was removed and another took its place, this one wiping the inside of her slender thighs.

"There." He said. "It's done and there is no blood on anything that would show."

It was over.

She swallowed, straightened up, and let her dress fall to cover herself. Her body was alight with entirely new sensations that she'd never felt before. Her mind resisted, but her body felt...

Felt...

Whole.

Completed.

It felt like Kalus penetrating her was something that she'd been missing her whole life but had only just realized it. She couldn't believe that right now she might be carrying his child.

She hated that he'd done it, but her body loved it. It was betraying her, but she was determined that she wouldn't betray herself. She wasn't going to give in, no matter what. Not to him, not the man who'd sacked her city and was making war against her father the king.

* * *

Kalus watched his bride straighten up mechanically and she turned towards him with very little emotion. Perhaps that wasn't true; he could see that there was emotion there, she just seemed to be concealing it. She seemed better at it than most.

"I am sorry it had to be this way Katia." He said honestly.

"And I as well." She whispered. She swallowed, then looked away from him towards the rest of the field. "I think I'll just..." She turned and wandered into the grassy field full of flowers.

Kalus felt almost as conflicted as she looked.

Years ago when he decided to follow Illuminar, he had decided to follow Him completely. Illuminar's Book of Light was very clear that no man should ever bed a woman that he hadn't married. Thus, it had been many, many years since he had felt the exquisite sensation of being inside a woman.

It was better than he remembered.

Far better.

Yet despite that -- despite feeling some semblance of sexual satisfaction for the first time in over a decade -- he felt conflicted for feeling that way. He wished Katia had enjoyed the act. He certainly had enjoyed it somewhat, though far less than he would if she was willing and eager.

She was young, beautiful, and very sexually responsive. The few women he'd bedded before he'd begun to follow Illuminar hadn't been nearly so responsive. Even though she clearly didn't enjoy it, her body certainly seemed to. She had become incredibly wet in less than a minute and she was incredibly tight. Plus she had started to push back against him at the end, surely signaling that she had enjoyed it somewhat.

Just remembering was enough to make his cock stir again. Plus, she wasn't on any herbs to prevent pregnancy; she might be carrying his child right now. Were she interested, he certainly would've taken her again.

Alas, she certainly wasn't.

They spent the better part of the day in the field, though mostly with her far from him. Kalus spent most of it praying to Illuminar for a resolution to his marriage and the war. He'd been on the campaign trail for far too long and had no wish to make Katia give birth in a military camp, though with the last city less than a week's march away that wasn't likely.

"Katia!" He called as afternoon wore into the early evening.

She slowly walked towards him with all the enthusiasm of someone marching to the gallows.

"We must leave soon so we can return to the camp before nightfall."

She nodded but didn't reply.

They rode to the camp in silence.

They dismounted in silence.

They walked back to his tent in silence.

Once inside the tent, she sat in the chair facing away from him. She didn't say a word. When his herald brought food she took it and offered a word of thanks, but said nothing else.

They ate in silence.

When bedtime came, they climbed into the makeshift bed in silence. She rolled so her back was to him without a word. Kalus put a hand on her shoulder and she tensed up.

"I mean you no harm Katia." He said softly; kindly.

Katia moved her shoulder as if to shrug his hand off, but did so without any real force behind it. He sighed and removed his hand. He lay in the bed on his back, staring at the ceiling of the tent. Katia was truly a pleasant girl, or at least had been the previous night. He hoped that in time she would soften again because she would make an excellent wife if she did.

Regardless, he would never let King Tyso take her away from him. Never. The king had threatened him with many things that he would easily endure -- including that he'd force him to take a second wife in addition to Katia -- but he would never consider letting his current wife be taken from him.

Ever.

As he lay there, he imagined that one day he would wake up again with his bride snuggled up against him.

* * *

Kalus woke in the middle of the night, not sure what had disturbed his slumber. It took him a moment to realize that not only was he not alone in bed, but Katia was also no longer as far from him as possible.

Quite the opposite in fact.

She had curled up to his side like she had the first night. She was laying with her head on his chest, her amber hair spread over his shoulder like a blanket. One of her legs was draped over his and her arm was resting on his chest. She was curled up against him as a lover might be.

He smiled.

Perhaps there was a chance that things could work out between them after all?

TO BE CONTINUED...

* * *

***I'll drop the next chapter in a few days, so see you then. ***

NOTE: As mentioned, the main characters here are also side characters in my other story: "A Dragon's Tale". They aren't mentioned until chapter 31 -- and that first mention is a spoiler for this story -- so if you're looking for something to read and don't read past chapter 30... Anyway, it'll be on my stories page if you're interested. :)

STORY TAGS (for the whole series): princess, teen, virgin, medieval, romantic, spanking, blonde, threesome, impregnation, breeding