[center][h1]The Queen & the Sorceress II[/h1][/center] The road back to Nallan was an uneventful one. Though when Auriëlle saw the palisades of the town in the distance, she felt something she hadn’t felt in years. It was a mixture of safety and relief. As she walked through the gates she finally realized what that feeling was. She just got home. A guard took her highland stag to the nearby stables as Auriëlle herself headed towards the throne room. Little things inside the palace now made sense. The insides were darker, with smaller windows. Everyone looked happy and content. The clear absence of guards was not because they were plotting an ambush, they simply weren’t inside. Nalla’s entire security rested upon her own abilities. She moved through the familiar corridors until she reached that grand door leading to the throne room. As she had walked through the palace she had maintained her usual defiant look. Yet now she awaited Nalla’s servants to announce her to the queen. Gods she wished she could just barge in but that wasn’t the way now. She had to dance with Nallan’s formalities. If only for a little bit. The doors opened revealing the same dark chamber with only Nalla residing within. The Queen beckoned Auriëlle forward as her servants quickly left the chambers. She wore a low cut, tight fitting, black dress that contrasted her skin tone and accentuated her curves. Her orange hair was up in a bun and her crown flowed as always. The sorceress’ dress sense heavily contrasted that of the queen. Auriëlle still wore half her hair in a tight braid which was used to tie down her hair on the back of her head. Her clothes were dirty. A discerning eye could take which bits were mud on her leather armor and which were blood. Her clothes were loose and comfortable and the only thing that really separated her from the average mercenary was the wooden, black-veined vambrace on her right arm. "I must say, I am surprised you returned after all. I am pessimistic about these affairs but it is good to see you, Auriëlle." Nalla smiled hungrily. "I take it you've talked with Sarren?" She then asked. “We talked. The issue is resolved.” Auriëlle preferred not to go into details. Everyone would have their own opinion on how she should’ve handled it. All of them would be meaningless discussions. She tried to keep her voice neutral, as to not give in to Nalla so quickly. She wasn’t about to address the queen’s doubt in her. Though deep down she wondered if Nalla had expected her to die or betray her. “So where am I to go next?” Inside she was itching for a fight. A proper fight. Hells, she could settle for a skirmish. Anything that could get her blood pumping again. Nalla seemed amused by that. She got up from her throne and began walking towards her. "Tsk tsk tsk. Back so soon and already wanting to leave? You could die, get injured, even get sick! Who would I be if I did not properly feed you, bathe you, and have you get a good night's rest." She said, standing before her now. Though she was shorter, her presence felt large. "A reward! That's what you deserve for completing this task and as a token of my affection. Do you accept?" She asked, eyes gazing upon her. A reward? It was unexpected. Yet how could Auriëlle refuse? She just hoped it would be something useful. Though she had the strange feeling that you just never knew with Nalla. Nonetheless she would be grateful. “I do.” Nalla nodded, returning but a simple smile to her. She walked closer, touching her cheek before walking around her. Nalla then leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "You're so strong, so powerful, so fearsome Auriëlle. Let me show you my affection, a God's love." Nalla then began to speak in a language Auriëlle had never heard before, but the way she spoke pit was soft, seductive and alluring. As soon as she finished speaking, her entire world exploded into mind numbing ecstacy. Auriëlle took a small, dazed step back, surprised as she heard the strange words. At first she thought it was a spell. Yet then she felt that feeling swell in her heart. Warmth flooded through her. All worries vacated her mind. They were replaced by utter euphoria. Her muscles relaxed. The tightness in her chest vanished as well. It felt beyond amazing. “Oh gods.” She muttered, as she closed her eyes. Letting the waves of joy clash over her. She felt Nalla arms wrap around her waist as she spoke again into her ear, "As I said, I had more to offer you. It is surprising though, usually it sends people limp and to the ground, writhing in pleasure. Once again you prove yourself stronger then the lesser beings." She paused, and spoke again in Auriëlle's opposite ear. "Soon it will pass but it lingers for far longer in the heart. Yearning. For now, a bath will be prepared, food given and you can rest from your travels. Tomorrow you will learn what you came back for. Now, do you need help getting to your room? Nod if you cannot speak." Time felt slowed down. Nalla’s scent was prominent in the air. Her words sounded like the most wonderous songs in the world. She couldn’t get enough of it. When the queen said it would pass, her heart already ached a bit for that which was not yet lost. If she could speak, she would’ve asked Nalla in all things that had been prepared for her. Instead her addled brain could barely process bythe flood of sensations. The soft touch of the queen’s arm around her made every thought topple before it could be expressed. She yearned for more words, which sounded like the most beautiful sounds in existence. Why would she ever shatter such beautiful sounds with her own, crass voice? So she just nodded with a very happy smile on her lips. "Good." Nalla purred before in one swift motion, she grabbed Auriëlle's legs with one arm and scooped her up. She rested within the Queen's arms, who barely seemed bothered by carrying her. They began to walk and Nalla talked. "You should consider yourself lucky my sweet. Everyone in this palace would die to be where you are right now. Swaddled like some babe, carried by the Queen. How scandalous but how delicious. It's a wonderful feeling isn't it? Makes you go numb from the pleasure, craving for it to never end. You know, it's how I feed upon the living. You must think that cruel, well let me explain. You see, they don't feel any pain, they feel what you feel and everyone wins. I get a nice warm drink and they get the best fuck they'll never have. Pity really. But it is what it is, my dear." She giggled at that, as they entered a room. Nalla layed her down on a bed and then hovered over her. "I think you and I will achieve great things together." She mused. "I'll be leaving now. Until tomorrow, Auriëlle." And before she could even blink, Nalla was gone. The words were soothing. It felt good to be carried, for once. She heard the words but she wasn’t sure if they would be remembered. Then that voice came screaming in the back of her head. It had never been this prominent, yet so far away. It was the voice of nearly a decade worth of paranoia, mixed with three decades of being shoved aside and ignored. It told her that what she felt now wasn’t right. Wasn’t natural. Perhaps the most damning thing was that it said: ‘this isn’t for you. This isn’t you.’ They were such jagged accusations coming from her own self. For once she felt happy, safety and an unrivaled happiness and something deep inside of her told her it was wrong. Luckily the voice remained in the back of her head as she rested for a bid. She barely remembered going to the bath. The high she had felt was fading now, as she felt the cold water on her skin. Meanwhile the voice grew louder and more convincing. Especially now her heart yearned for that which she did indeed lose. The next moments all swirled in a blur. She never even remembered when she crawled under the sheets. [hr] The next morning came, and Aurielle found herself in a familiar view. Nalla sat across from her at the table, she sat underneath a large sheet, held together by wooden sticks and attended to by servants. It completely blocked her from the sunlight, but she also wore clothing that completely covered her body, save for her head. Even then, she wore a long hooded cloak that could easily fit over her crown comfortably. Like always, she held a cup of blood in her hand and had an amused look on her face as she watched Aurielle eat. Auriëlle was more tense than ever. The high of yesterday had given way to the low of today. She wanted to see blood. She wanted to kill something. She wanted Nalla. No! No, she did not want the queen or whatever spell she had used on her! Yet her heart yearned for the vampire. The sorceress’ eyes were slightly hollow as she took a few bites from her bread. She didn’t speak, unless spoken to. Even then the most any servant had gotten was a short grunt. Nothing felt right today. The frivolities of court began to weigh down on her. Why couldn’t the queen just let her slip like the war hound she knew she was? "On to business then." Nalla yawned and snapped her fingers. Two more servants entered the room carrying a chest. They plopped it onto the table in front of Nalla with a resounding boom. "Inside you will find a cloak with my sigil, a set of outfits you might enjoy and, believe it or not, but a set of bronze plate I… acquisitioned from a passing smith." She rapped her fingers on the table. "Nallan is besieged on all sides by enemies. There is a growing number of tribes that are banding together for protection against Nallan in the south. Why they would do this, I can only imagine." She stood up and leaned forward on the table. "You will go to this area with my men at arms, crush this uprising before it causes me trouble and show them that I am their Queen and the only protection they are going to get, is from me. When that is done we shall convey once more. Questions?" She asked. Finally! Like an over excited child she sprung up, sending the chair clashing into the ground. She didn’t care. The chest was open in a moment’s notice. With a finger she brushed against the bronze plate. It was gorgeous. Probably worth more than an average peasant’s life and it was hers. She smiled from ear to ear. “Yes…my queen.” She responded to Nalla’s orders, though her eyes were glued to the contents of the chest. But she did have questions. Endless ones. What was she permitted to use? Could she raze a village just to make a point? Could she only kill the leaders and warriors or could she kill more than them? They swirled in her head like never before. Normally these questions wouldn’t come up. Carn would just relay to her what the commanders in their tents decided. Well, this time she didn’t have Carn. “Just one.” She said as she slowly closed the chest. “Where are the commanders meeting?” She would have to be privy before she knew what avenue of action to take. Nalla sat back down and leaned her cheek on her hand. She looked to Auriëlle with a neutral expression. "You are the commander Auriëlle. Was that not made clear when we first made our agreement? It shall be for you to decide. There are several veterans the men respect, who have served me for years. Look for them for guidance if you must. This shall be your test, to see if you have what it takes to do this. I do suppose I could have you serve under someone-" “No!” Auriëlle yelled as she slammed her fist on the chest. The whole table rumbled. There was a fire in her eyes. “I will lead and I will win.” Her heart was ablaze again. All the doubt and confusion fled her. It was replaced by confidence and she wouldn’t hear it otherwise. She turned to the servants. “Take my chest to my quarters.” It wasn’t a request. It was a command. The power of her own words made her heart flutter. Then she turned to Nalla again. “Next time we talk, I will have brought you kneeling men or ash.” With those words, she turned on her heel and marched away. Already looking taller than when she had entered the room. Behind her, the Queen smiled wickedly as she watched her go. [hider=Summary]Auriëlle returns to Nallan and tells the queen that the issue with Sarren is resolved. The queen doesn’t push her to reveal more detail, and instead moves to give the sorceress her reward. Auriëlle is swept up in the eternally loving words of Nalla. Her senses to all that is not Nalla dull. The vampire picks her up and carries her to her room, while explaining her own condition and actions. The sorceress barely registers any of it really. After resting some she gets a bath and eventually ends up sleeping. The next morning Auriëlle came down from the blissful high and looked like crap. She barely speaks, until Nalla brings forth the chest. It contains the cloak, garbs and even a bronze chestplate with her heraldry. Nalla then gives Auriëlle her next target: a group of villages to the south that have bound together for protection. Nalla orders Auriëlle to break up the resistors and put the villages under Nallan’s protection. Auriëlle gleefully accepts the equipment as fire burns in her heart again. She walks away, promising Nalla she will return with either ash or kneeling men.[/hider] [hider=Prestige] Nalla = 5 10k+ chars = +5 Ending = 10 Charm of desire = 5 10k+ Chars = +5 Ending = 10 Bloodied Crown = 5 10k+ Chars = +5 Ending = 10 Auriëlle = 19 10K+ chars = +5 Ending = 24 [/hider]