Heart's Gift

Lady Silver

I still didn’t sleep. So many thoughts, so much to process, twisting around my mind like a vise until my head was pounding. I’m a queen- or I will be. I wasn’t sure if a wedding had already taken place, but everyone was already calling me “majesty”- of a place I had never heard of. My king, as well very much unknown to me, had given instructions for everyone to follow, which included telling me nothing but the very bare of the bare minimum about him.

Then there was Eric and Ashley. The two of them couldn’t have had more opposite opinions if they tried. Ashley claimed with dark looks and hard frowns that this king was a dangerous man who played games with people, bending them and twisting them to his will. Eric said just the opposite: the king was like anyone else. The only thing they seemed to agree on was my Heart's Gift.

This magic, this Heart's Gift, that I didn’t even know existed had burst forth in a fit of rage after Ashley had refused to give me straight answers. It’s kind of funny for me to think about now, really. Initially, I was shocked when my body burst into golden flames. I was unscathed, but the couch I had been sitting on across from my bed had a circular burn; the wall behind and the floor below had suffered the same. Ashley had said the color of the flame had indicated primal magic, and, judging from her expression of awe, wasn’t very common. I was looking at my hand as I thought about what that meant. Primal, old and wild, possibly feral. What was magic like that doing in me?

I was focusing on my hand, willing it to ignite with golden fire… it didn’t. I sighed in aggravation. Eric had said it would take time, said he would be one of my teachers. I still didn’t know about having him as a teacher. He had tried to seduce me, the bastard. I was sure he had used whatever Heart's Gift he possessed against me to try to do it… Who would want that as a teacher? But I probably didn’t have a choice other than to accept his lessons. If anything, I had resisted him once, I’ll do it again.

I tried to turn my thoughts from him, from Ashley, Heart's Gifts, and kings, to be accosted by the most disturbing thought of all: I still didn’t know how I got here. Before that thought could cause me too much distress, I sat up and threw my pillow across the room. The damn thing was too firm anyway. I stared at it on the floor where it had landed by a window. The sun was shining on it. I hadn’t realized I had been up all night. The sun was shining through the sheer curtains, illuminating the cabin.

Standing, I made my way to the window, longing for some reason, to see the sea sparkle under the sun’s light. Except, when I pulled back the curtain, the sea wasn’t there. Instead, I was looking out at a port lined with old, though highly polished buildings, bearing signs for inns and taverns and traders. In front of the shops, pressed tightly together along the boardwalk stretched as far as the eye could see in either direction, were hundreds of people all staring hungrily at my window and, now, at me. A loud, thunderous roar sounded as they spied me peering out at them. They were cheering and waving, jumping about trying to get my attention.

But why? They didn’t know me. I didn’t even know me! I let the curtain fall and I stepped back quickly, hoping it would drown the sound, knowing it wouldn’t. I was starting to panic. My heart was racing, and my breath came fast and ragged. I put my hands over my ears and bent double, singing to myself to drown out the noise still raging outside. It didn’t work.

I screamed.

Silence…

I felt my breathing slow slightly, shaky still, and blinked at the carpet under my feet, my eyes wide. The noise…it just stopped. What? I slowly lowered my hands from my ears, expecting to hear at least chatter from the window.

“Obviously, your gifts operate on your emotions. Good to know.”

I looked up slowly, staying bent, my hands still poised by my head. Eric was leaning in the doorway, a smirk on his lips, a sleek black eyebrow raised in amusement. I glared, grinding my jaw. Admittedly, it was difficult to maintain my expression of loathing. In the sun’s light, he was even more appealing than in the moon’s light. His hair was, in fact, black but shimmered blue as he turned his head to look at his nails. His lips were full, c****d in that damn smirk, and his eyes…I wanted to melt even though his gaze was no longer on me.

“Get out.” I managed to whisper. “I don’t want you here.”

He laughed outright. “Peace, Lady Silver.” He pushed off the door frame and bowed low before me, his eyes gazing up over me in my thin nightdress, a grin of something I couldn’t quite describe crossing his lips. “I come with a message from our king.”

I gulped at his grin and turned away from him, wrapping my arms around myself in a self-conscious attempt to hide from him. “Lady Silver?” I asked quietly.

“For the fire in your heart that burns bright in your emotions, much like the moonlight over your skin last night.” He chuckled darkly. “I thought the nickname very fitting.”

I felt a muscle in my cheek twitch. When I wasn’t looking at him, I was able to feel my disdain and keep it strong. “I don’t like it. Now leave.”

“As I said,” I jumped when his voice sounded softly in my ear. How the hell did he sneak up on me like that? “I came to deliver a message from the king.”

Moving away, I sat on my burnt couch, keeping my focus on anything but him. The crystal sculptures on the shelves caught my eye as they glistened rainbows in the natural light. “Then tell me what it is and get the f**k out.” I demanded.

I could feel his smile, his eyes…I could feel his hunger. It wasn’t pleasant.

“I am to escort you to the palace. There you will be allowed time to bathe and dress accordingly to meet the king in the throne room. Your handmaiden will accompany you only after we have reached our destination.”

I couldn’t avoid looking at him now, hoping my face conveyed the horror I felt. “I am to travel with you?” My voice was shrill in my ears. “No. I refuse.”

“You can’t refuse our king, Lady Silver. This is his wish.” Eric explained, that f*****g grin on his lips again. “He wishes us to get to know one another as I will be teaching you about your Heart's Gift and how to use it at will.”

I couldn’t say anything else if I had wanted to. Words deserted me. Instead, I let my body respond. Slowly, ever so slowly, I raised my hand, curled my fingers into a fist, and let my middle finger rise. I held a defiant look on my face as he stared at my finger, obviously amused. He said nothing more, merely chuckled, and bowed out of the room, giving Ashley a severe look of what appeared to be unmasked hatred as she passed through the door by him.

Ashley glared back at him shutting the door with a snap of her fingers just barely after he cleared it. Her expression cleared and she smiled when she looked at me, her multi-colored eyes swirling. She was dressed in a cream-colored peasant blouse and blue velvet skirt that swirled around her with each step. Her long, golden hair had been swept up into a messy, though appealing, bun on top of her head. One slender arm carried a bundle of cloth against her body as if it was the most important thing in the world to her.

“Good morning, majesty.” She said brightly, crossing to the bed and laying the bundle down gently. “I trust you slept well?”

I shook my head. “I didn’t sleep at all, and can you please just call me Aila?” I pleaded. “I hate this ‘majesty’ bullshit.”

Ashley chuckled musically. “If you want, Aila.” She was unraveling the bundle, laying it out fully over the bed. It wasn’t just a bundle of cloth but a dress of silver that shimmered like water. Even lying still, it swirled and shifted as if crafted from the very waves of the sea around this ship. “Here is the dress you are to wear until we reach the palace.”

I blinked. “For…me?” The dress was so beautiful… I didn’t want to sully it with my bland looks.

Ashley nodded, then gestured to the door. “What did he want?”

I averted my eyes, feeling Eric would be standing there if I looked at the door. “He came to tell me I have to go with him to the palace.”

Ashley made a noise like a small growl and crossed her arms, glaring at the door. “Of course he did. Said it was the king’s order as well, didn’t he?” When I nodded, she sighed heavily. “Well, then you have to do it. We need to hurry now. We’re running behind schedule.”

I felt uncomfortable in the silver dress that fit me perfectly, accenting my curves. Ashley had produced a scarf from nowhere for me to cover with, helping with the subconsciousness only a little. The guards from outside my room- whose names I had learned were Jeremiah (the smaller one) and Robere (the larger one)- escorted me through the crowd that kept trying to touch and grab me to a carriage that stood, waiting, at the opening of a cobblestoned street. The people who had come to gawk at me were cheering loudly again, shouting for me to lower the hood of my cloak which I only drew tighter around my head. Eric was waiting by the door of the carriage, leaning against it with his arms crossed over his chest, one leg propped on a large metal wheel.

He gave me a brief once over, that damn grin crossing his lips slowly before he bowed to me. “My Lady Silver,” He said. He looked up at my guards and Ashley. “We’ll be traveling alone. The rest of you are to follow.”

My stomach dropped and I knew my fear was showing in my expression for he chuckled darkly. I looked to Ashley, who had a look of the utmost hatred. “But I want-“

“King’s orders, Lady.” Eric interrupted.

Ashley held herself tall, looking as if she would like nothing more than to set Eric on fire. “Fine.” She growled and turned with my guards to a smaller carriage behind my own and Eric’s.

I watched them go, feeling anxious, as Eric opened the door for me to climb in. When I was seated, sitting as close to the window as possible, he climbed in as well and knocked on the ceiling. The carriage started moving, rather quickly, and jolted me forward, sending me to my knees on the floor. I had not expected that. Eric’s hand came into my line of vision as he offered it to help me up.

“Careful, Lady.” He said smoothly.

I looked up to find him watching me, an eyebrow raised, dark eyes burning into my flesh. I slapped his hand away and pushed myself back into my seat, drawing my cloak tighter around myself. He didn’t need to see the way this dress accented almost everything on my body. I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. I looked out the window to avoid looking at him and became instantly mesmerized by the passing city.

The buildings were all crafted of different materials, some brick, some clay, some wood, and had various stalls and items for sale. One had a sign offering cursed objects at reasonable prices. I wondered why in the hell anyone would want a cursed object…Another had objects that were floating and twirling in the air, trilling songs and glowing brightly. And the people! It was all like a dream! Dwarves and elves, ogres and faeries, and so many other species I had never seen before were all congregating around the various shops and stalls, bartering and chattering, laughing and arguing.

I was so enthralled, I hadn’t noticed I had brought myself to kneel at the window, my hands on the ledge like a child staring in a shop full of toys. I felt something on my hand and looked down to see Eric had placed his hand on mine. I couldn’t even glare, so enamored of the sights outside. I just looked at him, feeling my cheeks flush.

“You look beautiful when you’re pleased.” He said quietly, almost seductively. “And that dress…I feel as if your handmaiden had chosen it just to tease me.” He grabbed the edge of my cloak in his fore and middle fingers and pulled it open, eyeing my body hungrily.

I pulled my hand back slowly, still staring at him. Is this why he wanted to travel alone with me? Did he want to try to seduce me again? No… I couldn’t let him. I had to hold myself together. I turned my gaze back to the window, finding the buildings had become sparser, allowing nature to take hold. The houses out there were beautiful compared to the thriving market. Multi-colored vines and flowers climbed the cement walls, the roofs overrun by what looked to be moss. Even the trees were more than just wood and leaves. The flowers that bloomed emitted a cloud of pollen that smelled strongly of a spice I couldn’t name but was pleasant to my senses, and the colors, oh the colors! Bright pinks and reds, purples and blues sometimes alone, sometimes mixed, created a plethora of beauty for my eyes to devour.

We were moving along a tree-covered path now, and I sat back in my seat, looking at my hands. Surprisingly, Eric didn’t speak at all, except for when he told me I was beautiful when pleased. He just watched me, his eyes curious and penetrating, a small smile on his lips. He seemed to be enjoying my reaction to our surroundings. I chanced to glance up at him. He was gorgeous, there was no denying it, but dangerous. As if sensing my thoughts, he stood, hunched over to avoid hitting the ceiling and moved to sit next to me, rather close. He pointed out the window and whispered, his voice in my ear, “We’re coming up to the palace. I want to feel your reaction.” He pulled my hood down, and I let him without comment.

Feel my reaction? Before I could ask, or even protest, he grabbed me around the waist and held me tight against him, his other hand gripping my chin and forcing my eyes to the window. I felt my fear threatening to take hold again and struggled against him. He just chuckled in my ear and held me tighter. I felt his lips on my ear, on my neck, not kissing but grazing, sending goose-pimples over my skin and a strange sharp feeling to my stomach. I was struggling harder.

“Don’t fight me, Lady. I’m not going to hurt you.” Eric growled in my ear. “Look!” His hand gripped my chin firmly, keeping my gaze out the window as we passed the last trees.

I gasped, unable to focus on his hands on me. In the distance, a castle stood, shining brightly in the sun. The rainbow reflections cast by the many microcrystals Eric had told me of took my breath away. So many towers stood against the stark blue sky like beacons for passing ships on the ocean below the cliffs on which the castle stood. It was surrounded by the largest willow trees I could ever remember seeing in my life, towering at least halfway up the tallest tower which had to have stood at least twenty stories high.

For the first time since I had woken up with no memory on a ship bound for this place, I felt excited. I was going to live there. That castle was to be my home. I wanted to be there now, wanted to see the hundreds of rooms, the thrones, the people!

“Your heart is going wild, Lady Silver.” Eric whispered, his lips grazing my ear again, this time kissing ever so softly.

I shivered but didn’t stop him. I don’t know why, but I felt like I didn’t even want to fight. I was too enamored by the wonders outside the window. I hadn’t even noticed when the hand at my waist had moved up to between my breasts where he could feel my heart hammering its mad tattoo. It felt good, too good… The excitement mixed with his gentle assault on my ear and now my neck was pushing all morality out the window into the glorious view beyond to vanish without a trace.

His hand gripped tighter under my chin, turned my head so I was looking at him. His eyes were darker than night, not even a shine to be seen from the light around us as he peered into my eyes. I wondered, with a whisper of suspicion, if that was a sign his Heart's Gift was at work. Why else would I feel so willing to allow him to touch me like this, to tease me without putting up a struggle? I felt myself coming back to my senses, squirmed just a bit to pull from his grasp, but his eyes held mine, peering deep into my soul.

“Don’t fight me, Lady Silver.” He whispered against my lips. “Let go.”

His hands had moved from my chin and heart to my thighs where he gripped and lifted me to sit in his lap, facing him. I gasped and pushed my hands against his chest weakly, trying to fight this strange seduction he was putting over me. I knew I was failing. I was gasping as he pushed my dress up my legs to my hips, unable to find breath, sweating with the effort to stop his assault, physical and magical.

“Please…” I whispered, my voice breaking mid-word. “Stop this. I don’t like it.”

He gave me a grin, wicked and dark that set my heart to pounding so hard I was sure he could hear it, and ran his hand up my leg, his skin grazing mine warm and firm. “Fight me then. Much as I prefer you to just give in…” I shivered at the growl in his voice and tried to push back from him again. “You can’t can you? You want this as much as I do. A little taste of what’s to come…” He gripped the hair at my neck and held me still. “A small taste…”

Eric pulled my lips to him, his tongue dancing expertly across them before I couldn’t help parting them to scream. To my surprise, I didn’t scream. I moaned and leaned into him, unable to fight his power anymore. It felt so good… his hands touching every part of me he could, his lips searing me as his tongue twisted and twined with mine. He shifted slightly, trailing kisses down my neck that had me gasping with pleasure. His hands had left me to push between us and I could hear him unbuckle his belt. He bit my neck gently and one hand wrapped around me to raise my dress over my hips.

“Please…” I begged; although I couldn’t tell if I was begging him to stop or give me more. I was having trouble processing my thoughts. I couldn’t tell what I wanted and needed to do.

He gave me more, lifting me slightly, expertly maneuvering my underclothes and forcing himself inside me. I moaned loudly, clutching his shirt at his chest, my head falling back. His groan was music to my ears, and I looked up to see his eyes had closed.

Eric f****d me, right there, in the carriage, moving me over him with ease, kissing my lips, my neck, even my breasts through my dress as he bent me back. All the while I felt my pleasure build along with the whispers in the back of my mind that it wasn’t right. But no matter how hard I thought, how hard I tried, I couldn’t fight anymore. It felt too good to fight. To hear his groans of pleasures, feel him beneath me, filling me to the core… I didn’t care anymore. It felt so f*****g good.

“That’s it, Lady  Silver…” He growled. “Let it take over.”

The pressure was building, higher and higher. My knuckles were white from how hard I gripped his shirt. I was moaning freely, rocking my hips on my own as his hands explored my body more…

The door to the carriage was ripped open- when had the carriage stopped moving?- and Ashley stood glaring in at us. Her cheeks were red, her eyes alight with fire, rippling waves of anger visibly rushing over her as she surveyed the sight of us in our lustful embrace. In an instant I came back to myself, slightly confused before realizing what was happening. I had known. I had known and I let it happen, ignored my instincts that had whispered it was wrong. I looked at Eric who was grinning nastily at Ashley and let go of his shirt to cover my mouth with my hands. My cheeks were wet with tears of horror and anger at him and myself.

Without a word, he lifted me off him and deposited me on the seat next to him before adjusting himself and standing. Ashley moved aside enough to let him pass, her eyes never leaving him, her expression hard and furious. He just grinned at her with one sleek eyebrow c****d and spoke to me.

“Welcome to Draumur, Lady Silver.”