-Royal Blessing- (Erech, King & Queen)

[Desperanza]

Casting a glance to his wife, the King winced slightly. He took a breath and cast a glance to Erech now, a quaint smile touching his face for a brief moment as he nodded slowly. He had to admit that the ranger rather impressed him. A man from the town and he managed to pay for a nice suit and every reply that the ranger offered was respectful and confident. This man knew what he wanted and how he planned to do it and yet, when the Queen spoke, it was nearly a spitting image of Abigail’s words in the mouth of the Queen and yet, she was the one he feared. She had made her decision and this could not be allowed. He had been leaning towards allowing the marriage. He did love his daughters dearly and he would rather not allow the eldest Princess from his grasp and he didn’t mind her marrying the ranger. He seemed to be an honorable man and Erech’s name had been murmured on more than one occasion to protect Ellsinora. This man was a fine fit for his daughter, the best of any poor towns folk in his opinion and yet, the Queen had made her decision and now he would have to go along with it. Though he cast a glance towards the Queen, questioning her methods of turning the ranger away, he said nothing on it. He cast a glance back towards Alexa and Erech once more, carefully refraining from wincing at the thought of turning them away as he shifted uncomfortably within his throne now. He folded his hands together and offered a wan smile to the poor ranger and his bride to be, “Good sir of Ellsinora, I must admit that I have heard of you and your acts and though honorable I must admit that the lowly blood displeases my wife the Queen. It seems to have come to my attention that this will not be possible and I cannot allow this marriage.” He stated simply. He caught a slight flicker of movement to Erech’s right and his eyes fluttered to the sight of his eldest daughter for a moment, a stricken look crossing her face as she gasped quietly, her fingers clenching to Erech’s hand as she gazed up at her father. The King felt that tremor within himself, that ache of pain at denying his daughter what she wished and yet he could do nothing more. It was the Queen’s decision in all honesty for he feared her more then he feared the anger and hatred of Alexa. Alexa had never hated anyone and he didn’t find it easy to think that she could hate him either. Glancing back to Erech, the King gave a brief motion of his hand, “I must excuse you from my court now sir and Alexa darling, I apologize but we must keep the lines clean and rich. I am sure you will understand in time darling.” He stated quietly as he glanced towards Alexa briefly before quickly turning his gaze away, hating to see that pained look across her face. When he had thought to make the man pay in order to take his daughter’s hand in marriage, he had not necessarily meant for them not to marry at all but that seemed to be the way of things now and so he fell silent, his wary expression remaining stagnant as he turned his gaze from the pair thoughtfully instead.

Alexa’s bright blue eyes stared up at her parents. Wide and without understanding she stared up at first the Queen but primarily the King. Her father, the one man that she had thought would stick up for her. For once in her life she had been sure that the King would be on her side, that he would finally stand up to his wife for her sake and yet, it was not so. It hit her like a slap in the face or a bucket of cold stream water and she jolted, gasping. Her jaw fell open for a brief moment at the King’s ruling and she stared up at him. At the moment, she did not see him as the King. She did not see him as the head of Ellsinora, the ruler of one of the finest kingdoms, she saw him as her father and he was letting her down. He had always said that he loved his daughters and yet, how were they ever to be sure? Abigail was her mother’s favorite and both were intolerable at times and she had taken after her father and yet he had held Tryphena close to his heart. Tryphena had run off and become pregnant and returned only after the ordeal to lie to him and yet she was being punished for such an act apparently. She had been honest and she had done things by the book. Her lover had done his best to be sure that the King and Queen were impressed, that there would be no reason to say no and yet here she stood with the words ringing in her ears. There would be no royal wedding. The people of Ellsinora would not be allowed to welcome a new Prince to the line. Instead, it would have to wait until the tirade of her mother finished and her father no longer sat at the throne. Until then, there they would be. She the Princess at the side of a commoner and no she would not have her parents blessing but until they recognized that a commoner could serve just as well as a royal, she refused to live beneath it. She would rather be stuck in Kiyer with none of her familiar amenities with Erech then be stuck within the walls of the castle without him.

She would refuse to live the way that her younger sister did. Separated from her love and meant to live within the chilled walls of the castle without him would be torture. Having to face the King and Queen that had denied her what she wanted most in the world would not be tolerable nor bearable for her. Wincing, she turned from them slightly, tears pooling into her eyes. Her fingers had become clenched to the hand of Erech and her ice blue eyes came to look up at him with a pleading stare. Taking a slow breath, she glanced towards the King and Queen briefly once more and yet she knew that this was the verdict. There would be nothing more. She moved to speak but only silence enveloped her and after some time, the chilled and bitter laughter of her sister filled the room as Abigail’s delight finally escaped. Her lavender eyes held a humorous and cold look as she stared at her elder sister. Alexa’s suffering came to the enjoyment of Abigail. She had tried not to laugh for long but finally, it came forth and she caught the brief look of Alexa, shock and pain filling her features. Alexa could perhaps have kept her composure before her parents denial but with the cold laughter of her sister, she felt like a traveler caught in a snow storm, feeling as if she had been cut out of the family that she had grown up with. She didn’t seem to know any of them. Pain arched within her before ebbing again. She winced, sighing as she glanced towards the King with one last pained look before she turned quickly to flee the castle. Her hands lifted to her cheeks as tears trailed along her pretty face now laced with fear and pain. She fled the throne room and clear out of the entrance of the castle. She managed to make her way out into the courtyard before she tumbled into a heap at the edge of the fountain out in the courtyard where water trickled in the circular stone discs that layered the fountain. With her arms folded against the stone bench at the base and her head lowered into her arms, she cried. Her legs began tangled and tucked beneath herself, her skirts tossed about haphazardly about herself as she sat there. Guards fluttered quickly, flanking the Princess from a few feet away, feeling awkward and unsure at the saddened Princess but none the less they remained, protecting her should anyone unknown approach the eldest Princess from where she sat within the courtyard.

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[Erech]

Erech's eyes flicked between the two leaders of his beloved country. His ears could not believe the words that they heard. Erech's hand gripped Alexa's as the denial was bestowed upon them. It was heart breaking, the knowledge that Erech could not married Alexa, it broke his soul. Without even listening to the King's words, Erech knew that the Queen had decided and the marriage wouldn't commence. He turned his back to the King as he walked out. This was not just a sign of sadness or anger. This was the sign of disrespect, Erech had lost all respect for the King. His unconditional love for his homelands began to slowly but surely decrease. His love for Alexa was unconditional, and it would not fade, but the love for his lands had begun to disperse. Erech walked calmly from the castle into the courtyard, where he reached his mount. Plummeting his hand into the bag at the side of the horse, Erech pulled free his large dark green cloak. Fastening it around his royal attire, he quickly became the Ranger he had always been once again. He had yet to climb upon his horse and saw Alexa burst into the courtyard. Erech walked up to her, sobbing and her body limp. He leaned over, lifting her head from her arms with his fingers. He laid a gentle kiss upon her lips.

"I shall return for you Princess Alexa. I promise."

Erech's eyes held sadness and anger. He was furious at the decision, but the decision was final and he could do nothing about it. He raced over to his white mount and climbed aboard. His trusty wolf followed as a flash of white and a trail of dark fur blurred through the gates and down the cobble paths. Erech had left briefly, he would return soon but when? That was the question. In this state of mind, Erech would likely do something careless and reckless. Although, he was capable of handling anything, the one thing he could not handle. The breaking of his heart.

[Desperanza]

The Princess’s bright blue eyes were filled with tears. When she reached the courtyard, Erech had made it there already. He was standing by the white steed that had brought him here and when she melted at the foot of the fountain her eyes drifted closed as she tucked her head among her arms and wept. She wept for the pain that her heart felt and she wept for the fact that Erech too had been denied what he had wanted dearly. Two lovers torn by the cruel words of another it just didn’t seem possibly and yet here they were, denied the marriage that they so dearly sought. After a few minutes there he was, at her side. Her head was lifted and her bright blue eyes came to look into that of Erech’s own eyes. She held her breath, feeling as if he would be able to help her, he would be able to save her and make everything better. The words that fell from his mouth struck her with fear. He said that he would be coming back and yet, he was leaving. She wanted to know where he was going. She wanted to go with him but she would have to stay here. She felt the warmth of his kiss for a moment and she inclined her head eagerly into the kiss for a moment before she glanced after him as he moved away from her once again, mounting the white steed once more before the ranger and his companion wolf left the courtyard of the castle. She held her breath, her tears flooding her cheeks as she stared after the ranger with sorrow in her eyes. When would he come back? When would she be able to be with him again? She sighed, feeling pain lance her heart as her chin rested over top of her arms. She closed her eyes slowly for a moment as she sat there. She heard the shift of the guards around her but she did not pay attention to them. She paid attention to the receding backside of the white steed that carried her lover away from her. She winced, feeling physical pain leap into her once more and she suddenly felt sick. Small cries escaped her and her palms lifted to catch her tears. She brushed her fingers along her cheeks to clear her tears and suddenly she stood from the ground, casting a glance back towards the entrance before she gathered her skirts swiftly within her hands with a wince and she hurriedly darted towards the gates of the castle. She raced from the courtyard, leaving the castle behind as she raced forward and darted away from the entrance to the courtyard. She left it behind, all of it. The guards, her bedroom, her clothes, her family. She was headed towards town even after Erech was no longer in sight but she suddenly changed pace, dispersing among the trees now instead as she raced into the forest towards the falls. The ivory stag of hers was at her side in moments and her fingers clung to his mane as she stumbled and within minutes, she had disappeared into the forest, leaving the pain of her own family behind.

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[Erech]

The white flash that trailed through Kiyer's streets swiftly galloping down the cobbled path. The sounds of claws pounding against the stones as a black flahs followed the white horse. Atop of the white horse, a green trail of cloth, the cloak of the renowned Ranger of Ellsinora. Erech's blue eyes shut forcefully as a single tear rolled down his right cheek. The first time Erech had ever allowed a tear to pass his eyes, a tear with Alexa's name written upon it. His jaw clenched hard as his head stared at the mane of the white horse.

Ellesar running beside the horse watched as if in slow motion as the tear flew from Erech's face and trailed behind them. The wolf knew this was serious. The trio headed into the forests, swiftly avoiding the trees and roots upon the ground. It seemed to take an enternity to reach the Celeste Falls, but they eventually stopped at the sight of the falling waters.

The sight of the crashing waters somewhat calmed Erech as he dismounted his horse and steadily walked over to the rock edge of a large rushing stream of water. He had collected his clothes from the bag attached to the horses saddle. Taking off his Royal attire, he dropped each item of clothing into the running river, they moved slowly down the river ad Erech watched them. Talking out loud he spoke to himself and aimed it towards Ellesar who now sat beside him.

"Thats not me Ellesar, I'm not cut out for the Royal life. This is me. A man of the wilderness, the forest. I am a Ranger."

His uncondition love for Alexa remained intact as he sat beside the rock edge, he shirt, cloak lay beside him as he sat Topless watching the water rush. He leaned over, collecting water into his hands he splashed it up into his face and ran his wet hands through his slightly curled, dark hair. Erech had reached a point of sadness and only one woman would be able to cheer him up and he had left her back at the castle. Or so he thought.

[Desperanza]

Alexa’s footsteps were unsteady, she was unsure of where she was going. Tears clouded her vision but her fingers remained entwined with that white mane. The stallion walked slow, accommodating the slow pace of the Princess who walked slowly along at his side. She pressed her cheek to Zephyr’s warm hide and sighed, closing her eyes. Her bright blue eyes remained closed for some time to the point that she couldn’t even recognize whether she was even still moving forward or not. Her feet seemed to have simply gone numb but she did grow rather aware after some time when she stopped completely. Her lashes fluttered open and she gazed around the world around herself. She had let herself wander right into the forest without so much as a second though. She didn’t think much of it, however, for it had brought her out of the throng of people of town and into the solitude of the forest where there was nothing but Mother Nature and the wilderness to greet her here. She could be sad in solitude. However as she stood there gazing around herself with bright blue eyes, her stallion shifted and knelt down at her side. She cast a glance to him and smiled, her slender hands lowering to gently rub his ears for a moment as she didn’t quite mount just yet as she glanced around herself once again. It was the first time that she had wandered into the forest on her own in quite some time simply because she wanted to and as she glanced around herself, the song of a songbird lifted into the air, and she breathed a soft sigh. She listened to the sounds that emanated around her and she paused, not too far off she could detect the roar of the waterfalls, Celeste Falls was not far. She thought about traveling there and at first it stung her with pain. Traveling to the falls would present as a rather romantic place within her mind and the thought of any romantic place without Erech seemed rather hard to tackle at the moment.

Frowning, she flopped down at the stallion’s side, her head tilting against the mane of the horse as he laid patiently waiting for his master to mount his back and for a little while she sat and simply entertained herself braiding small braids into the mane of the stallion with a faint and airy smile. Her mood was far from lifted but at the moment, it didn’t matter. She simply felt rather numb. She didn’t want to face the world at the moment for the world had stripped the one thing she had wanted most in the world from her. She remembered the moment that Erech had ridden from the courtyard and winced. She wanted to know where he was, she wanted to be with him. She wished he would have taken her with him but he hadn’t and now she had no clue where he was, whether he was safe, or when he would come back. She winced at the thought and closed her eyes as tears threatened to fall again. She hugged herself to the neck of her dear friend for she had held a connection with the stallion since she was young. The Lord of all Horses he was indeed and after a few moments, the stallion spoke to her once again, Princess, you must get up. It is not safe for you to sit here in the forest on your own. I know that we have been here together before but you are not in the best of spirits at the moment Alexa. he stated, his head turning to glance back at the Princess with a bright amber eye. She sighed, glancing to meet his gaze before she offered a small nod and climbed to her feet. Gathering her skirts, the Princess slid onto the ivory back of her stallion, her fingers curling into his mane before she nodded slightly, “Take me somewhere, Zephyr. Anywhere.” She murmured, glancing around herself before she sighed and closed her eyes closing her legs to the sides of the stallion to balance herself as the white horse set off at a relaxed walk through the forest.

The Princess hardly paid attention to where the stallion wanted and yet somehow, the stallion seemed to understand where it was that Alexa wanted to go. The white horse had made its way through the trees and by now, the roar of the falls was growing ever louder. The Princess by this point however was laid against his neck, her fingers meekly curled within his white mane and her cheek was pressed to his neck. Her eyes were closed and her cheeks were tear stained but at the moment she was not crying. One that looked upon the pair might think that the Princess was sleeping at the moment but she simply seemed to have fallen into a numb and relaxed state at the moment. The horse glanced back at the Princess on his back for a moment before he huffed softly and glanced around himself briefly. The horse could smell the fellow horse and the man at the falls by this point. He was on alert but within a few moments, he relaxed. It was the man from Alexa’s mind. He was indeed the only horse that could communicate with humans and Alexa was his master and always had been and so he had been able to gather images and thoughts from her mind but at the moment, the horse took a moment to ponder and process that this was the man that Alexa had been saddened over. No doubt about that. Just as the horse shifted to alert the Princess of their destination, she stirred.

Alexa’s head lifted from the neck of her horse and she yawned, sighing softly. Her hands lifted to tenderly touch her cheeks where the tear tracks remained, the dried tears there had dried by now. She sighed softly and winced, remembering why she had been crying in the first place. She brushed a bit of honey brunette hair from her face before she turned her gaze once again as she glanced around herself curiously now. The roar of the falls entered her ears and she gasped softly, glancing towards the elegant waters that tumbled down over the rocks. She blinked, feeling that sharp pain beginning to return again before she caught a slight flash of white among the trees and gasped softly, her fingers clinging to the mane of her stallion for a moment. It was the horse from the courtyard, the horse that had carried her lover from her. She bit her lip, urging Zephyr a bit faster. She felt her heart rate quicken hopefully, was he here? She closed her eyes and brushed the branches out of the way as she leaned closer to Zephyr’s neck as he jogged forward among the trees, slowing as he broke through the trees and there, by the water sat the very man that she was searching for, that she had sought to find among the trees by the falls. She gasped, shocked that finding him had been so lucky and simple and she hesitated for a brief moment, seemingly glued upon the back of her stallion for a few moments before slowly, she slid from his back as if she was walking in a dream. She took a breath and slowly wandered forward, unable to find words for a few moments as she paused a few feet from him, her blue eyes gazing upon the sight of the man before her. There he sat in all his glory, shirtless and fantastic as she had always remembered him. She felt that familiar flutter of her heart as she gazed at the man, hardly able to believe that she had managed to find him now as she gazed towards him, her hands hovering in front of herself as if she was itching to touch him and yet she was still too far away, nearly afraid that at any moment he might disappear again and so she was hesitant to draw any closer. How long had he planned to be gone before he would have returned? She wasn’t sure she wanted to ponder the thought and the thought that he too could be in pain worried her and quite suddenly, she was sprinting towards him. She gathered her skirts within her hands and darted forward, “Erech!” she breathed as she darted forward, racing towards the one person in the world that she wanted most.

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[Erech]

His ice blue eyes stared at the white foaming waters as it crashed and flowed down the river. His eyes flicked to the royal clothing, floating away. He had paid a handful of coin for the clothes, but they had been labeled with a 'fake' Erech, he shouldn't have been adorning such clothing. His eyes remained still and saddened as he heard the incoming steps of a horse. It's rider could have been a Muratian soldier but Erech didn't care. if it was to be someone who would wnat to kill him, it would release him of all the pain of neglect and denial. He remained still at the rocky edge as his Princess stood a few feet away from him.

Ellesar had picked up on Alexa's scent and no doubt knew she was coming, his nose lower, nudging into Erech's arm and giving a low, somewhat pain-filled growl as it hurt Ellesar to see his partner in such a saddened mood. Erech's ears perked as he heard his name being called. He lifted his head and slowly turned, leaning onto his arm, his body twisted for his eyes to catch glimpse of Alexa. He quickly rose to his feet and pulled her into his chest. Folding his arms around her, he laid his head on her shoulder. Yet another single tear rolled from his eyes, landing upon Alexa's shoulder. He then pulled away from the tight graps, holding her arms with his large hands. He looked deeply into her ice blue eyes.

"Alexa, sorry for leaving the way I did. I couldn't see you unhappy." Erech paused and took a deep breathe before he finally managed o pluck up the courage. "I Love You." Erech left it at that as he looked deeply into Alexa's eyes, how would she react? Erech worried yet felt a weight lifted from his shoulders as he said the three words with complete meaning. He was sensitive when he was around her, something no other woman had every achieved.

[Desperanza]

Alexa’s eyes reached those of Erech’s and she held her breath, feeling his arms circle around her and pull her close as he reached her. Her arms in turn wrapped around him in return, her left hand lifting to cradle the hack of his head gently for a moment as her fingers stroked the dark locks of hair of his with a trembling smile that touched her features. Tears pooled within her eyes and she closed her eyes slowly as tears trailed her cheeks once again as she held tightly to him for a moment before he took hold of her arms and she lifted her head to meet his gaze once more, her tears slowing once again to a stop as she looked up at him and met his gaze. She nodded mutely to his words for a moment, taking a trembling breath to steady herself as she offered a flicker of a smile and closed her eyes slowly. She tilted her head to rest her cheek at his hand before righting herself as she glanced back to him again, her hands lifting to rest at his chest as she nodded slowly in reply to his words though she didn’t speak immediately. She simply held his gaze and listened to his words before a slow smile crept across her face, “I love you.” She replied softly in return. Her tone was quiet and soft but it was gentle all the same. She couldn’t blame him for leaving for he too was in pain. He too had been denied the marriage that he had wished. He had worked hard for acceptance and her parents had turned them both down. She offered a desolate sigh and smiled all the same as she drifted forward closer to him in return, inclining her head as she slid her arms upwards to circle his neck a bit with a soft sigh as she lowered her cheek against his chest for a moment, closing her eyes slowly for a moment before she lifted her head once again and she came to look up at him.

She held her silence for some time as she gazed up at him, blue meeting blue and enticing a smile from her as she held his gaze thoughtfully, “I love you so much, Erech. I never meant for you to hurt this way. I thought that my father would understand.” She murmured quietly with a sigh as her fingers brushed the edge of his shoulders and wandered downward to rest at his chest once more as she caught her breath, her eyes coming to wander along his bare chest for a moment as she bit her lip briefly before glancing back to him again as it felt a bit surreal. She could hardly figure out whether this was all real or whether she was dreaming by this point but before she knew it she was in tears again, her arms wrapping around his waist briefly as she held herself closer and inclined her head to press a kiss to him briefly before she smiled slightly, “I’m sorry, I’m really sorry. I don’t want us to be a part. I won’t leave you. I don’t need the castle or anything that goes with it but I do need you.” She whispered as she met his gaze once more. She felt the tears trailing along her face and she gave a trembling sigh, emotions swirling wildly within herself at the moment but she held close to him, taking comfort in the fact that he was with her once again. The fact that he was here calmed her and after a few minutes her tears began to slow and eventually to stop once again as she rested her head against his chest once again with a small sigh. Instead, she came to watch the falls for a few long moments as she began to think once again. She replied the scene within her mind but by now, it didn’t matter. She had found him once again and she lifted her head to glance up at him thoughtfully once more. Her eyes were soft and her smile inviting as she gazed up at him thoughtfully now. She had nothing to say however though the silence was not awkward as she knew that at the moment, their emotions ran along the same lines currently. One hand drifted upwards to brush at the damp point where his tear had escaped before lowering it once more with a faint smile.

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[Erech]

Erech's hands held Alexa's arm gently as he eyes interlocked with hers. He listened carefully to her words, he listened to the meaning she put behind them, listening and watching intently for any sign of regret or conscience, but he found nothing. The words she spoke were the truth from the bottom of her heart. Erech nodded as he pulled his lover close again after she had spoken her words. He slid his hands from his arms gently as he moved his hands to her neck. Just as she stopped speaking, Erech moved his hand to press his finger against her lips, his eyes became very relaxed and they flared in an icy blue glow. Shifting his head to meet hers, he gave he a full blown kiss. Erech loved this woman and he wanted to ensure he made his mark, if he had not already.

Kissing her soft lips, his fingers run down her neck. His arms then wrapping around her again, he pulled her closer and closer. He body curled as he gently pulled Alexa down to the ground with him. His body rolling across the rocks, it hurt but the heat of the moment drew his attention away from anything but Alexa. Know lying uponn the rocks, Alexa has fallen atop of him Erech smiled at her as he kissed her again. Things were getting hot, who knows what things could lead to?

[Desperanza]

The Princess held the gaze of the blue eyes of Erech as her hands rested at his chest for a moment and she fell silent, taking a slight breath as his finger touched her lips and she offered a briefly shocked look but once he had, the words melted away within her mind and she sighed softly with a slight smile. Rather suddenly she became breathless as his kiss met her in reply and she froze for a brief moment before her arms came to wrap around his neck as she gave into the welcoming kiss of the man. All at once the worry seemed to leave her mind and the pain melted away now as she leaned against him lightly, responding happily to the touch of the ranger now. She rather suddenly forgot the fact that she was upset with her parents for denying her marriage. She ignored the fact that she had been in tears, fearing that she might have lost him. The fact that he had left and she had held no clue as to when he would return nor where he was because he was here now and his actions to her everything. Her fingers curled and brushed gently at the back of his neck, her breath frozen within her lungs as she gave into him and when he moved and the pair were brought to the ground, she smiled softly, her blue eyes growing misted with a sensual stare as she sighed vaguely and leaned forward to meet his lips with her own once again, her hands resting at his chest for a moment as she leaned forward a bit before meeting his gaze again with a soft sigh, catching her breath briefly as her fingers brushed at his bare chest thoughtfully and silence now enveloping her but it was not awkward or stiff, she relaxed rather quickly knowing that there was no other place that she would want to be. With the fall of the waters to the side and the soft and cool mist that escaped over the rocks further off where the water crashed into the river that leaked away, she shivered lightly and leaned forward closer to him once more with a vague sigh as she rested her hands at his bare chest once more. Her blue eyes held an inquiring glance, curious whether the stir of desire and emotion that welled within herself matched his own now as she met his gaze once more with a light and inviting smile.

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[Erech]

He felt her body gently land upon his own bulked out chest as they lay upon the ground together. His hands placed upon her hips, as she placed her hands upon his chest. Time seemed to stop as the seconds ticked past slowly. Erech gazed into her ice blue eyes, the hue of colour matching his own. The emotion overwhelmed him as she kissed him. His bare chest, his flesh warm, his blood pumping at a fast rate. He motioned his hands up the length of his back as he reach her neck. His hands curled around the back of her neck. In a sudden flurry of movements, Erech had switched positioned. Alexa was no laying upon the floor with Erech holding himself gently atop of her. He had ensured she would not get hurt in any way during the switch of position, but the heat of the moment was intense.

He slowly leaned his body down, his muscles contracting as he did so, showing the full form of his body. His head lowered as he slowly kissed Alexa's lips once again. He continued the kiss, with partial breaks for air. He pulled his head away to meet her gaze sensually for a intense stare of love.Erech loved Alexa and he was sure the feeling was mutual. Erech believed it was time...

BLACK OUT

[Desperanza]

The afternoon had soon given into night, a night that had been memorable and passionate. Desire had stained the air and there had been no doubt that love had been solidified with the ultimate connection. The bond that the Princess now shared with her lover was undeniable and unmistakable. What did it matter that the King and the Queen had denied them their marriage, there were other ways. Surely she could find a preacher that would marry them without trouble. No matter, however for she did not need a contract nor ring to represent the love that she shared with him and as she awoke, she realized that she could not be happier. As she awoke to find him resting there at her side, she smiled. No amount of silks and satins and finely made dresses, no soft bed or home made of stone nor any of the finer things that were given to her would ever come at the expense of her lover, the one man that she now devoted herself to. She smiled, her fingers stroking his bare chest with a grin as she gazed at him with bright blue eyes before she bent forward and pressed her lips softly to his own before she raised herself up slowly.

She gasped softly as the fresh air brushed her bare skin and she inclined her head and blinked against the soft pales of light that escaped through the trees in small flecks that landed down upon them. Smiling softly, the Princess settled up a bit to sit straight with a small breath. She folded her legs before herself. The folds of her dress sat a few inches away in a mess on the ground but for the moment, she ignored it. Her palms became pressed to her own slender stomach with a grin, closing her eyes slowly as she imagined what could become of this encounter, what would become of this time that they had given each other. The thought lit her features with a radiant fire of thrill as she smiled and glanced down over the ranger with a soft and appreciative smile. She felt the zing at her fingers to reach out and stroke him once again, the corded muscles that had fueled the movements of the ranger in the night and yet had been ever so gentle and for now, she let him be.

Smiling softly, the Princess gathered herself and rose elegantly to her feet, stretching her limbs a bit before she whisked away to the river close by, dipping among the cooler waters as she refreshed her skin and bathed rather quickly and for the first time in quite a long time she had no lavender or floral soaps to wash with and when she climbed from the waters there was no rose water to sprinkle over her skin. No, just her own simple and sweet feminine scents. Sighing, she returned to Erech once more as she gathered the dress between her fingers but before she settled it onto her frame, she gave it a speculative glance, gazing over it thoughtfully for a few long moments before she began to rip and tear at the cottons, pulling ruffles and seams apart until finally, the dress was much simpler with only a few folds to linger about her legs and the top left to hug her frame without the corset. Sighing, she slid into her dress with a satisfied sigh before she came to lean against the chest of the ranger once more, her fingers splayed across his bare chest as she pondered the life that she was now beginning with the ranger, her ranger. Curious what the future would bring to the pair, she smiled to herself and closed her eyes as the wild life around them came to life with the early morning and she once again let herself delve into the world that this man and woman now shared.

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