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Post by rightasrain19 on Jan 1, 2020 22:42:05 GMT
Alister felt his face twitch with anger as Nadia slapped him. She was getting away with that far too often for his liking, but he let it slide this time for two reasons. First, because he had admitted to killing her friend, and that was enough. But second, because she told him she loved him. Granted, it was in the same breath with which she had professed her hatred, but Alister decided not to dwell on that. He dogged her steps, reaching out to grab her hand, pulling her to a stop. "I love you too, Nadia. We could never have been anything while she lived. She will be honored with a wonderful funeral, one that respects your people's customs and traditions."
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Post by Val on Jan 1, 2020 23:50:18 GMT
Nadia whipped around to face him, feeling tears spill out of her eyes the second he opened his mouth and reciprocated the admission of love. She wiped furiously at the tears, hating that she always cried in front of him- that he always made her cry, "I don't understand who I'm becoming, Alister. I've been a handmaiden...a slave my whole life! I thought Yasmin was my best friend and now I feel relieved at her demise. I like the way it feels to get what I want- to have you." She squeezed his hands, her tears drying as she became more sure of her words, "I don't want to be insignificant anymore. I will not hide in the shadows. I am more than that. I am more than her," she stated boldly, a new fire burning in her eyes.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Jan 2, 2020 0:55:28 GMT
This new side of Nadia, of her becoming who she truly was, made him love her all the more. Maybe when he'd first laid eyes on her, he had sensed it. He had fallen for her seemingly gentle, docile nature. But he had always felt there was something irresistible to her that spoke deeply to him. Now he knew it was her fire. Her fire to his ice. He pulled her tightly to his chest and kissed her roughly, wanting her to know, to feel, that he would never put her in the shadows again. "You were meant for me, Nadia. To be my one true queen. No one will ever look past you, or through you, again." He promised her, wiping the remaining tears from her cheeks. The king could not believe how quickly he'd fallen for her, and how completely he was consumed by her. He had never believed it would happen to him. "But grieve your friend all the same. You loved her first, after all."
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Post by Val on Jan 2, 2020 2:08:04 GMT
Nadia believed in him, trusted him. How could she not when he kissed her so deeply and looked upon her with what she could only describe as adoration? He made her feel special and powerful. Together, she believed that they could be an unstoppable force. But he was right, she did love Yasmin, despite the circumstances of their friendship. In many ways, she felt responsible, but she was beginning to learn to let go of guilt. Hugging him tightly, she pressed her face into his shirt and exhaled, "Our people...will hear of this. Yasmin's family; they'll come for me." She looked up at him, suddenly very serious, "The ones that were in attendance cannot get the word out. Our nations will be at war for this," she warned him earnestly.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Jan 2, 2020 2:30:01 GMT
"Then what would you have me do?" Alister murmured, wanting to hear what she had to say. It was a bit of a test. Did she have the instincts of a ruler? He cupped her face in his hands, his eyes scouring every inch of her sweet face. He truly did adore her, and he believed he would for the rest of his life. "I cannot risk being at war with another nation. Our relationship with Nethilor is already strained, further damaged by Wolfgang having been Evolet's betrothed. I cannot fight two wars. Her death, for all intents and purposes, was a tragic accident. Would they truly hate if I wed you instead?"
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Post by Val on Jan 2, 2020 3:32:06 GMT
"Yes. They would hate it," she replied with certainty. Alister did not understand their culture. Where she came from, she was treated like chattel. Born and raised only to serve others. Becoming Queen in place of the royal daughter was not an option that they could be aware of. Gazing at him levelly, she gathered her thoughts with a deep breath, "No one from my nation saw her die. As far as they know, Yasmin escaped safely with you. We tell them that she was overcome with grief of the tragedy that occurred at her wedding. She took her own life," Nadia paused, swallowing a lump in her throat, "I will write a suicide note on her behalf. You will handle the political fallout. If all goes well, they will break ties with Raevaryn and leave us alone,"
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Post by rightasrain19 on Jan 3, 2020 2:38:59 GMT
Alister had no moral qualms with her plan. It was logical, although it posed risk if any word whatsoever got out. People traveled often. And more often than they traveled, they talked. But he was willing to try it. It was war if they didn't attempt this, and it was war if they found out he had lied about Yasmin's death. But there could be a chance for peace if they went with Nadia's plan. "Very well. What would your people accept as a condolences gift? I will of course pay a handsome sum to compensate them for her loss. What else?" Alister smiled at his beloved, impressed by her mind. The little servant girl had more beneath the surface than anyone, including himself, could ever had imagined. He reached up to touch the fabric of her head scarf, "May I?" he asked, wishing to remove it to see her beautiful hair. To see her, truly.
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Post by Val on Jan 3, 2020 3:58:53 GMT
The gears that had been turning rapidly in Nadia's head came to an abrupt halt at Alister's inquiry. She blinked up at him, her green eyes going wide with captivation. Gone was the calculating young woman, replaced by a girl that was hopelessly in love. Forgetting his previous questions about their cover up, her lips parted and she nodded, "Yes," she murmured, waiting eagerly for him to complete the task. And when he removed it, she never intended on wearing it again. She was no longer that person. She wanted to start over as a true member of Raevaryn, not cling to the traditions of her past.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Jan 3, 2020 4:11:07 GMT
Alister loved all aspects to Nadia. The calculating queen to be, the fiery wit, and the innocent, young girl. All in one person, and it shook him to his core that she had fallen for him. Oh, she had resisted. But they had both known it was futile. Alister gently undid the headscarf, letting it fall to the floor. He brushed a lock of hair behind her ears, "Beautiful, with or without the garment," he told her with a slight smile. "Will they want you to return upon word of Yasmin's suicide?" He questioned softly, taking her hand to guide her to the bed. He kicked off his shoes and undid the collar of his wedding shirt, sinking down onto the edge of the bed with a sigh as he was forced to think of the details he would have to account for.
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Post by Val on Jan 3, 2020 23:12:59 GMT
Nadia felt her face warm over the compliments and the way he gazed upon her with such adoration. She followed him willingly toward the bed, but tensed at his question, "Yes," she managed, her voice quiet. She stepped in between his legs and reached for his shirt, beginning to undo the buttons with delicately trained fingers. When his shirt fell open, she suddenly took his face in her hands and looked him in the eye, "Please don't let them take me. Even if it comes to war, promise you won't let them take me," she whispered, her eyes revealing fear. Fear that she would lose her new life before it even began.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Jan 5, 2020 23:09:16 GMT
Alister had been going through all possible outcomes as Nadia undid his shirt, but when she took his face into her hands, he gazed back at her with eyes as sharp and piercing as a shard of ice. "I have never found a cause worthy enough to force my entire kingdom into battle. But for you, I would raze armies and cities to keep you at my side. I will not let them take you, I vow it." He laced his arms around her waist, knowing that no matter what, he would die before he let them take his Nadia. But he hoped that it wouldn't come to that. He intended to offer to pay to keep her, and he was almost certain that a kingdom would not miss a lowly handmaiden, especially if she was paid for. No need for Nadia to know he intended to buy her. No doubt it would make her angry.
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Post by Val on Jan 6, 2020 3:42:49 GMT
The fear in Nadia's eyes melted away with his vow, leaving her feeling utterly safe in his arms. Pushing the shirt from Alister's shoulders, she smoothed her hands over his icey cold skin and leaned in to kiss him sweetly, "And I vow to prove myself worthy as your Queen," she whispered, pushing on his chest until he fell back on the bed. Perhaps she had already proven herself worthy in his bed, but she planned on becoming much more valuable to him than that. She believed in her heart that, together, they could become a true force to be reckoned with.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Jan 7, 2020 4:20:53 GMT
He held her close to his chest as she kissed him, allowing the soft mattress to support his back. “I will have to allow some time to pass to look like I’m grieving, of course. But then I will propose, and we will wed. Tell me what you want that to be like, to look like,” he murmured, pressing kisses to her neck. He had left the planning of his last wedding to Yasmin and people who were paid to arrange these sorts of things. With Nadia, he cared, and he wanted her to have all her heart’ desires.
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Post by Val on Jan 7, 2020 5:00:00 GMT
As she lay over top him, she wanted nothing more than to share what she envisioned their wedding to be like. It would be a peaceful affair, outside, with a scenic backdrop. Only friends and important people would be there. Not the crowds that the failed wedding had drawn. But when she opened her mouth to share these things, she suddenly envisioned Yasmin in her wedding gown and couldn't bring herself to speak. It still felt...wrong. He might have to pretend, but she was actually grieving, whether she wanted to admit it or not. Crawling off of him, she retreated to the other side of the bed and sat hugging her knees, "I don't know," she mumbled.
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Post by rightasrain19 on Jan 7, 2020 16:34:05 GMT
Alister had forgotten momentarily that Nadia had loved Yasmin. The woman had meant little to him, and he had shrugged off her death as if it were nothing more than an unpleasant negotiation. He watched her retreat and sighed, mildly annoyed with her for trying to hide her vision from him. All in good time. “You can grieve in the privacy of these chambers, Nadia. I shan’t think less of you for missing your friend.” Alister turned on his side and pulled the covers up to his chin. That wasn’t necessarily true of course. But she was still a girl and she was an emotional woman. Her fire would come back eventually.
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