Raiyne/ Juniper Victorian romance (private)

Andres sighed, his thumb and index massaging his bridge of his nose at what was going on during the meeting.“ No one touches anyone. That includes the queen of the Fae, Amber. These are MY men and people. She has no right to touch or do anything of the sort, so I will talk to my men and make it a new law. But that is after this madness. I don’t have the time to talk to them." then  followed up with, "I can feel that they already moved from where some of them were stationed at the stables. So you should grab my mothers black mare. She’s faster and younger than Carbriel. She should already be tacked up and ready to go. I had a feeling we would need her so I tacked her up if  anyone of us needed her. I will walk with you there for personal protection reasons.”

After everyone had gotten fed and had a bit to drink, Andres looked at all of them, worry began to set in his heart. He knew that he would lose a good number of men, but he could always find a good number more to replace them after. “ Now… we are going to out there as a group, me and Amber in the center.” His hand took hold of his girlfriend. “ We will win this war. Bravery and courage is what this family line has been after, and I see that in every one of you. You are all good men. Who have served me and my house for years. Use that ability to fight this darkness that surrounds us.” He looked at every single one of his men with a smile " if you stay strong through this dark war against Claude, I wont ever stear you wrong. Dismissed"

The shuffling of boots filled the room seconds later as they all began to leave the safety net that was the insdie of the house. As they left, he took a look at his girlfriend. " Dont worry about your father. And dont worry about my men. They know the rules about getting together with ones that are not their kind." he kissed her lips, wrapping his arms around her waist, wanting to give her the peace and quiet before the storm that would be raging outside in a few moments.
He soon broke the kiss " come on,  lets grab the mare and go. But im not leaving your side. Your training that you went through with me will be enough. I trained you day and night, Amber. I used every ounce of my energy with you during those times. Time to use it." as they left, he grabbed his sword and bow and arrow. 
He was more nervous than his men. He knew he could leave his father and mother to do as they pleased. They could handle themselves. But this... this was his war that he had to fight with his men. A war that had to end. No matter the number of casualties on either side. He just hoped that nearly all of Claud's evil men would be the ones to  die. And His own men survive.

When they finally met outside, he looked at his men before taking hold of his girlfriend's hand and led her to the stable to get the younger mare saddle up. He could sense worry in Amberlee's posture and her breathing was quicker. " Babe.. relax. As long as you have me beside you, nothing will go wrong. I promise you that." his hand caressed her jawline and then hopped onto the mare, his hand down for Amberlee to take " climb on. Lets show Claude who truly is the ruler of this kingdom."
This would be a war that would be remembered for the next many generations to come.

     Amberlee tried her best to steady her breathing, and to dispel the worry that had managed to manifest itself in her heart. Andres was right, she was worried. She knew his men were all trained soldiers, and this was their job, their very calling in life, but she still didn't relish the potential loss of life for her. It was that reminder that steeled her heart as she took hold of Andres' hand and got on the mare. 

They had received reports of assassins and potential traps littered along the road to the meeting place, but almost halfway there they still hadn't run into anything. Not a single trap, not a single assassin, not even the rustling of a leaf aside from nature going about her business. Amberlee looked around, not trusting the silence. "Weren't there supposed to be people waiting to make life difficult? Especially considering I didn't come alone?" she whispered to Andres as her gaze darted around. She was still unnerved, untrusting of the supposed peaceful ride through the forest. How much farther did they still have to go? She'd been so focused on their surroundings, she hadn't been paying attention to the actual route, or how far into it they were. What if this entire ride was a trap? What if Claude knew Andres wouldn't let her meet him alone and set this entire thing up as one big trap? What if there was never even going to be a meeting. Dread coiled in Amberlee's gut as she realized too late how she likely played right into Claude's hand. "Andres, we-" 
But she was too late.

Before Amberlee could voice her warning, of t he realization she had just made, magical barriers sprung up around them, so quickly that even the brave mare spooked and reared, sending Amberlee and Andres hurtling to the ground. Amberlee was winded as she crashed onto the forest floor, and it took a moment for her to get her wits about her again. They had been caught in a magical trap, with barriers reaching up to the sky all around them. "Oh no," she breathed, panic flooding her veins as her gaze darted around, desperately trying to find a way out.
Claude's evil laughter filled the air around them, the world itself growing darker as if the sun were blocked. "Ah, my sweet little pet, predictable as always," he purred, "I knew you wouldn't listen, and I knew he wouldn't risk you. So I let you both make my life easier, and now, you are both at my mercy," he burst out laughing. 

Amberlee snarled at Claude, but as she was about to move, Claude lifted a finger, "ah ah ahh, not so fast, my feisty kitten," he warned, "see, not everything I wrote to you was a lie. I do, in fact, have your father here with me," he said. At the wave of a hand, her father appeared, bound and beaten, beside Claude. 
Amberlee gasped, "father!" she called out desperately, sadness in every breath. But her father merely groaned.
"Since you seem so keen on always making up your own mind, and not listening to me, I will let you choose. Right here. Right now. You can choose to save your dear father, by sacrificing your lover. Or, you can save your lover, by sacrificing your father," he grinned wickedly.
Amberlee went pale, "you're insane," she breathed, "no, I won't let harm come to either of them!" she snarled at Claude, her magic beginning to thrum around her.
"I could give you a third option, my sweet," Claude shrugged, "bind yourself to me, and swear on their lives that you will stay with me for the rest of your life, and I'll consider letting them go," he offered.

Amberlee felt her hope drain away as she was faced with these difficult choices. She didn't want to sacrifice either of them, but she didn't want to bind herself to Claude either. 

Andres grunted as he hit the ground. His mare rearing and prancing like a scared filly. trotting around the two protectively, nuzzling both of them in turn. Blinking his eyes to clear his vision, he saw Amberlee stand up on her own, dusting herself off. Then he heard his voice. It seemed like it was in the distance when in reality, it was very close by. When he heard Claude’s voice, she scrambled to his feet and walked over to Amberlee’s side, his arm around her waist. His eyes full of sorrow at what his  enemy was bringing upon his girlfriend.  Once he checked that Amberlee had to bruises or cuts or rips on her being, her looked at Claude and he growled. “ Don’t you dare talk to my girlfriend like that, Claude. You have no idea what you are even asking her. She knows as well as I do. You knew she wouldn’t come alone. Did we know that you wouldn’t even try to harm either of us? Well it was on my mind. And it sadly came true.” His eyes were full of anger. More anger than anyone had seen.  He never was like this. He rarely showed this side of him, especially around his family and Amberlee. Especially around her. He didn’t want to  show her this side. But this time was inevitable. His eyes were not the handsome hue. But darker. Like magic was coursing through him. With him being like this, he knew he could snap. At anyone. And he would rather snap at the one he hated the most. Claude.

He let himself calm down before looking back at Amberlee, planting a kiss to her temple, still holding onto her, his eyes then trailed to Amberlee’s father, beaten and physically warn. I cant let him die in front of her he thought as he heard all of Claude’s options. Sacrificing himself was the only best option. He couldn’t let her father die to keep Andre’s alive. He wouldn’t have it.  He sighed before turning Amberlee to him, and whispered as his hand caressed her cheek “ Amber. I won't let your father die to save my life.  You need him. I know he is old. But I know the choice that I am deciding for my own fate. Let me go. Go back home with your father. It's going to be fine. I promise” he leaned into her and kissed her lips for what seemed like forever. The last kiss he would have with her. Or so he wanted Amberlee and Claude to think.  The love that Andres had for Amberlee would in reality not really kill him, but put him in a kind of coma that would keep him asleep for a few days. He knew that Amberlee loved him to death. And he loved her the same way. “ Let me go” he repeated as he stepped back and began to head over to Claude “ Give her father back Claude, in exchange for my life.” He stood right in front of him, blocking any kind of view of their interaction. He wasn’t going to give up until Her father was safe in Amberlee’s arms. He had taken off the mail that he had worn on the way to the forest. Right at Amberlee’s feet. Giving Claude the perfect chance to strike and possibly kill. “ Go ahead. Release her father and kill me. But after this… leave my girlfriend and her father alone.” Was he afraid of losing his lover? Yes. Was he afraid of death? No. He wouldn’t show his fear to anyone. Even to death itself. He rather welcomed it. But in the end he knew the outcome.  He would be back in his lovers arms. His love for Amberlee would be the only thing keeping him alive. That’s al that mattered to Andres at this point. Nothing else.

   Amberlee and Claude were both taken by surprise at Andras' offer. However, the former seemed to grow more pale, while the latter seemed to grow more amused.

"Sacrificing yourself for your lover, eh, Andras?" Claude taunting with a wicked grin, "I dare say, you weren't listening when I explained the rules. You do not get to make this choice. She has to," he sneered at Andras, "and you most certainly do not get to make demands like this. The only thing you're doing right now, is proving that you want to force her into a decision. Just like the pushy little brat that I knew you are," he chuckled wickedly, "is that what you want, my little kitten? To be controlled by someone like this for the rest of your days?" he asked with a cruel taunt.

Amberlee felt as though she could hardly breathe. Her blood turned cold, her stomach felt as though it had turned to lead. He would offer to sacrifice himself, for her father. She could still feel his kiss on her lips. "Andras...please," she pleaded softly, barely a breath of air, "I ... need you," she whispered. She loved her father, but she couldn't - no, wouldn't let her lover sacrifice himself like this. She placed a hand over her aching heart. Should she strike out with a bolt of magic? What would it cost her? Would Andras forgive her for disobeying him this time? A frown tugged on her brow, "you're wrong, Claude," she snarled, "he is not the one trying to control me, you are!" she roared angrily. She could have sworn she had sensed something change about Andras a little earlier, before he had offered to sacrifice himself. Something magical, but how could that be? She concluded that it must then have been the pendant Titania had given him to wear, that was supposed to protect him. Realization hit Amberlee in that moment. That pendant around Andras' neck had been empowered by the very queen of the fae, it should theoretically be enough to stop any magical blow that Claude could deal. And she was quite certain that Andras was far superior to Claude in martial combat. 

"Tick tock, kitten, what is your choice?" Claude purred with a sinister grin, crossing his arms over his chest as though getting impatient.

"Andras, I can't let you sacrifice yourself for me," Amberlee said, "I can't risk losing you." She took a step toward Andras, trying to figure out how to lure Claude into opting to battle her lover with swords instead of magic.

Claude sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes, "fine, fine. Seeing as you won't decide, and your noble little prince is so willing to sacrifice himself, why don't we let him have his way?" he purred stepping closer as he drew his sword, "if you behave, I'll try not to let him suffer too much," he taunted Amberlee, then charged at Andras with his sword ready to run him through. Claude's weapons had all been enchanted, each had a spell of poison and enhanced damage on them. He did not step into this battle unprepared, and believed that this time, he would walk away the victor.

Adres snarled silently as he took out his sword and swung it in a wide circle. His eyes never leaving Claude. Only to then hear Amberlee’s sweet gentle voice. “ I'm not going anywhere, my beloved. You wont see me go anywhere too far from your side.” He promised as he them smirked towards Claude and  without warning jabbed his right shoulder.  Hoping to have cut the fabric that Claude had warn. Not only did he wish that, but he also wished that he cut his skin a little. “ I hope pain doesn’t bother you” Andres grinned as he then danced around his opponent. Deflecting each movement. “You have no right to take my fiancé from me. I know how you and your family work.  You don’t know how I and my own family work. And I hope you never….do” he continued to taunt Claude. Giving winks and air kisses to Amberlee every time he passed her. Even trying to get a touch of her soft fingers. 

[ltr]After some time, Andre sighed. He began to show signs of slowing down. A trick to his enemy. He really wasn’t going to stop till one of them gives in. He, Andre, wasn’t going to give in. "Give in yet, Claude? If not, I can continue on like this till you do drop” he continued to jab him with his sword, cutting his shirt. He was clearly enjoying this. More than he should. Especially in front of his fiancé. He controlled himself and took deep breaths and composed himself. He wasn’t even dripping sweat. He showed his tough protective boyfriend side. Not his easy going typical everyday side. The side that Andre knew Amberlee liked most. But he could be anything she wanted him to be any day and he would be that, just for her. He showed every day to Amberlee his love to her even in small amounts. Where and when they counted. Especially in the times during fights. It just showed his fiancé how much he truly cared for her. “But since I can feel that you are slowing down... I suggest you stop right where you are and let me and my fiancé pass. I'm not giving her over to a peasant such as yourself, Claude. I'm not giving myself over either. So for the last time, give in and we will move on.”[/ltr]

Last edited on 2024-03-21 at 10:31:00 by Juniper