she was the first in the church and he second though there was no place even there to be private as the monks lit candles for morning mass. her dress was lit equally by tallow and the rising sun and her skin looked softly golden like whitened bread before baking. silently he took his place next to her

Though his eyes were set in his lap he was able to see the prince coming to take his proper seat beside him. Calmly folding his hands together, he allowed them to rest against the pale fabric of his skirt as he lifted his gaze to watch the monks preparing for mass. "Good morning my lord, how does the day suit you thus far?"

even the painful seats did nothing to ruin her though all softness was lost in her angles. "i take great pains to please you yet each day you seem to want nothing more than to tease me. even the soft tones of the fairest dove cannot compare to you, i think you are a test from god to see how far i can bend before my back will break"

Setting his lips into a thin line at the words, he shifted uncomfortably against the hard wood of the pew as he chose his words. "I am doing well this morning, thank you for asking," breaking a hand away from from the other to dismissively wave away his bout of sarcasm he folded them once more. "To be compared to a test of God seems to be a kind compliment, and I will treat it as so. However, I do not feel as though my teasing is our Lord's doing."

he tried not to get angry at her dismissiveness but could not manage it. "there is no compliment in it though you are right, you are a vile unholy creature and i am seeing why your family would sell you so cheaply"

Firmly setting his jaw, the boy let his eyes sneak a glance to the warm haired man sitting beside him before adjusting it back towards the altar. Lifting his hands free from his skirt to rest over his chest in a prayerful way he spoke softly to the prince as the monk began to start the mass. "I am beginning to see why your family had you marry a river heathen like myself. It fits you well.

she was clever to wait until others had begun to flood the pews and he was left simmering in his anger until they were free to start the morning. he gave her no time to escape however and grabbed her tightly by the arm to pull her away from watchful eyes

He'd been a fool to think he could have gotten away with his witty words without punishment, and he offered little struggle as he was pulled back to the abandoned hallway only two days prior. Being pressed roughly against the wall, the boy could feel the edges of the stone digging into his back with just as much force as the hands still gripping tightly at his wrists. Even as he was backhanded in the prince's bedchambers he didn't look as angry as he did now, and the boy was positive he did not look as frightened then as he did that moment.

her fear tempered his words but not his anger and pressing her into the stone he let her understand where she stood. "i have no more patience for you, wife." as he spoke he shook her just enough to make his point clear. "your next misstep will cost you a pound of that fair skin you flaunt so boldly"

No words wanted to step forward, and he was grateful for it. It was clear the prince wanted nothing offered to him aside from an affirmation and than he was willing to give. Giving a shaky nod of his head while his eyes avoided the boiling orbs of slate he could feel burning at his skin, he hoped it was enough to assuage the prince and leave him with nothing more than badly bruised arms

when he was given confirmation of her understanding he let go. "and tonight you will give up your game of coyness" offering no more and not allowing her time to argue he spun around and stormed off. god help anyone who dared bother him today

The thought of even remotely going through with his plans to elongate his time without facing the man left his mind as he was shaken in the church. Simply thinking of the anger instilled in the prince caused for a shiver to run down his spine, and the sight of the man in the halls had the same effect to the boy. So he kept to himself for the remainder of the day, doing his best to be illusive, even through both the second and third meals of the day. Though it was the early evening when he kept all to himself in the garden while he waited for the right time to meet the prince in his chambers

as the day wore on his anger softened to an unpleasant brush against his ribs and mulling over the fear in her eyes he was left remorseful though he had no reason to feel that way. he huffed a sigh and continued reading his book

Rapping his knuckled softly against the deep wood of his husband's room he waited for the soft instruction to enter to be given. sliding a hand over the cool metal of the handle he gave it a firm twist as he slid the door open just enough to allow him in. Eyes immediately found him and he was quick to return it, his eyes looking over the prince in a discreet and prideful way, like one did to their enemies. Allowing for the knob of the door to wall from his hand, he listened as his only means of escape closed with a firm thud before he put on his proudest look

he saw fear all the way up until her eyes met his before it melted behind a strong jaw and unwavering eyes as if he were an enemy on the battlefield. he met them with his own. "wife, i am not blind to your reluctance and i am not an unreasonable man, after tonight i will have you sent away with your family where you will stay until you are needed to sire me sons, this is my concession to you"

Even with the cards laid across the table he still felt partially hesitant to accept, but he knew the prince’s words were nothing except truth, under the circumstances that he was a woman. alas he was not, and he could only help he would be able to go home to his parents after the evening, but there was only one way to know. A hesitant foot stepped forward, pulling him a stride farther from the door and closer to the prince, but he dared not step any farther yet. “Then tonight should be handled quickly. I wish to return home and you have made it clear that you have no more patience with me. Once tonight is over you need not see me for several span.”

standing he left the book where it lay among the sheets and coming over to where his wife stood he dipped in for a kiss. she was not as frigid as before but she was not as soft as the night in the garden. still pressed against her he spoke lowly, "walk with me wife"

Silently he wished he’d grabbed a shawl for himself or for the prince to have grabbed his coat before they’d gone to the gardens. The moon brought the chill of the night along with its beauty. Everything was drenched in the light of the silver orb that took its place in the sky; Every leaf and petal glittering as though the moon itself had graced each piece itself. The seriousness of the situation began to leave him and a smile even managed to grace his features before he felt himself pulled forward and laid back against a soft bed of flowers as lips found his neck again

he was right to think his nixie wife would be eased in the greenery, as they passed through the garden door her posture was less of a deer poised for flight and more as a flower stiff against a breeze. as they entered into the haven she even dared smile and though it was not to him he felt it move him and tugging her down into the foliage took back up his kissing. as his hands began to roam she curved with his touch and he faltered. pulling away he started to move away but a thin hand stopped him and looking up he found her staring at him, dazed and surprised as if he had asked a particularly difficult question. sinking back sown against her he felt the fingers leave his sleeve and her face melt into a dark flush. "wife.....you tease me so, i wish to touch you"

He took precautions to keep himself from looking any more startled than he was, though the words given in the quiet garden left his original fear beginning to seep closer. Nervously he swallowed as he patiently waited for his rose colored cheeks to fade back to fair as he laid in the silence. He watched with careful eyes as he noticed the rigid outline of the prince as he hovered perfectly still above him, like a nervous quail, not knowing whether to stay or leave; While he felt like a cornered pheasant, wanting to flee without the ability to do so. He dared not attempt. “The words that fall from you are genuine given all that you know,” He started slowly, making no movement for fear of the other flying off at the mere mispronunciation of a word. “You know much my lord, more than I know, I am sure. However, an error has been made a substitution to follow.” Slowly and carefully he laid his hand on the joint of the prince’s arm before softly his hand against it. He could feel the other lean against him as he started to speak again. “This substitution led to deceit and the deceit led to the alterations to fix it.” He could feel the prince becoming indifferent to his touches, and ceased his touches and focused closer on the words he spoke. “The correction never came to light and time for further fixing is growing dim. Now only repercussions lay to be taken care of”

he did not like what she was saying and he shifted again to look at her more closely as the words spilled from her mouth and the fear from before returned. "what are you saying wife?" the hand that had before touched now pulled and pressed against her womanhood only something was not right, he heard a soft sound "i have not seen my sister since she left." he felt his blood run cold for a long moment and the silence of the night became nearly unbearable. "...lord..ainsley?" when he was offered an affirmation he grew angry though he did not raise his voice. "how long did you intend to deceive me when you found my wife would not be returning?" she...no, he spoke softly and the hand left him, "until i could no longer keep lying to you my lord." he felt sick. he understood now why the other refused him so harshly, why the other spoke in such an unwomanly way. he tried to keep his anger in check. "knowing this...what led you to think i would not have you killed and your family too when i found out?"

He felt so nervous, this was not the position he wished to be in when he was required to tell the truth. A deep breath was used to calm himself before he continued to talk. “The chance of no man being killed for any of this. My sister’s cowardice needn’t be the reason for men to die. I might only be a false wife, but it brings strength and security to the people...” The question of what he would receive from it all fell from the prince’s lips, and he was taken aback. Flustered for a moment the boy managed to put out his answer. “A strong country and...if by chance...you may be willing to touch a...gaul and were willing to touch me...you could still have a night with your wife.” He could have sworn the nervousness practically dripped off of him at the suggestion, but as he was met with a retort of having no lent-butter he managed a laugh

she-no, he laughed softly though some of the fear still lingered. his arm was growing numb from the strangeness of the pose and lightly he shifted back into his earlier pose. "the difference between the two is the direction they face when pricked, a prince may not go against the wishes of god." lightly he kissed a false breast and could feel the heart beating under the skin like a bird in a cage. "so of course i would never lie with a man"

“Of course,” He mused quietly, “No prince should challenge Our Lord’s wishes, that would simply be begging for trouble...” His words seemed to fade away into the silence as easily as a breeze tended to come and go, and it was almost relieving. The prince no longer seemed angry, and he knew the truth, this was the best the marquess could have hoped for, and he hadn’t even dreamt of the possibility. Taking another deep breath of the moonlit peacefulness, he allowed for himself to bask in the moment

he felt the lad relax under him though he had the suspicion it was not because the boy was ready to fulfill his obligations as a wife. leaning down he kissed he-his neck slowly. "...you still have an obligation to me wife"

He allowed for the words of proposition to hang in the air while the lips slid across the smooth skin of his neck. Keeping himself comfortable, he breathed in softly and brought himself to relax against the ministrations. Lifting a hand to rest on a clothed shoulder he spoke softly, “I am here for you, my lord”

he did not believe the boy and snorted derisively against his neck. "that you would let me pluck your flower to save your dirty serfs shows you are either brave or stupid. go tell your father i demand three bushels of grain for the seed lost on this lie, three hares all alive for the time wasted, three three baskets of eggs for the sons i will not have and an eel the length of my arm.." shifting his hand down he pressed it against the lad, "for what i was given instead. now, repeat it"

Honestly, he preferred to think of himself as the former, but there was a chance he truly was being stupid in his decision. Still, he said neither to the prince and instead repeated the words with a sharp precision and was met with the weight of the prince leaving him. Making to stand as well, he was met with a halting hand from the other. "Your punishment is that you will stay here. Since you are so eager to be my wife you will stay as my wife." Staring in silence for a moment he gave an affirmative. As he was given the instruction to leave he pulled himself free of the flowerbed, and offering a curtsy left the man in the gardens.

that morning he waited for lord ainsley in the halls instead of going to chapel right away and was rewarded with a dress of the deepest green and and when eyes lit upon his the barest hint of color on his cheeks. sidling close he walked with the boy to the church. "you will come to my chambers tonight and every night henceforth until i can be assured you will be a proper wife to me"

The blush decided to linger on his cheeks when the prince spoke, though the boy seemed unfazed. Allowing for an understanding nod to make itself known, the boy gave a confirmative sound. “Of course, my lord. Need I bring anything or simply arrive on time?” He questioned casually as his steps fell in stride with the man’s.

it was his turn to feel embarrassment now. "no, just come." looking away they walked for a time longer. "it seems the natural tones suit you best wife. you are a fae thing if ever a body was"

The words were flattering and it left him glancing at the prince before turning his look back down to the ground in front of them. "Perhaps not a body, though a spirit would do well for the fae. Well for fluttering about and whispering secrets into one's ears." Tapping at the shell of his ear the boy rolled his shoulders into a shrug.

he was taken aback by the words. if he was not mistaken the lad had just spoken coyly. something he had not done since the first day. he schooled the grin down and walked the last part of the way. hw would be lying if he professed to hear a single word on brimstone and damnation that day

It would have been an understatement to say the day dragged on slowly. Instead it almost pained him as the sun dropped lower and lower in the sky as though it were dark molasses dripping out of a crack along the bottom of its bottle. Since the morning mass he’d made busy with the first hour to speak to his parents. He relayed the information on what the prince desired with the utmost precision to make sure no detail was forgotten. Even so they had to leave, and he was not permitted to leave with them, and it made him feel sad and relieved at the same time. Still, he silently bided his time around both the interiors of the mansion and the luxuries of the garden while he waited for the evening to befall him

he found himself in luck with god and and his favorite whore as the priest gave him permission to help prepare his wife for 'her' duties with the help of tools and his painted mistress provided the tools in question for no more than a few coins in her purse and a promise to still visit when the newness wore off. he was most eager by the time the sun had turned to ink he wanted his wife to arrive

By the end of the day he found himself relishing in the silent cove of the library, the lack of windows and the soft smell of ink and leather leaving him feeling peaceful and content, even if he didn’t understand how to read any of the tombs in the room. Still, the marquess was at ease until his maid told him evening had befallen them and he needed to make his way to the prince’s chambers. He left his maid with thanks and the last book he’d been flipping through with no particular care before heading to the prince’s rooms

when the sun finally set he set the box out on a pillow and started reading until the other arrived

Nervously licking his lips to give them half a sheen and cure his brief moment of dry lips, he stared at the heavy door of his husband's chambers. While the other nights it simply seemed frightening, that night it only seemed intimidating, the dark wood standing out more than he'd remembered it to. Lifting a hand to rhythmically knock on the door the marquess was greeted with some sort of noise he could only assume was a confirmation to come in. "Good evening my lord," the boy calmly said as he stepped into the room. His eyes took note of the prince lounging about enjoying a book as he'd done before, and though his curiosity was piqued it was stolen by the box laying beside him, and a question managed to escape him. "What is it you have brought this evening?"

not bothering to look away from the book he gestured for the other to come closer. "look inside and tell me what you see wife, i have a special gift for you courtesy of the church"

Cautiously he followed the Prince’s bidding, stepping closer with a face that appeared stoic with only the slightest sliver of curiosity playing at the edges. That, however, was the first to disappear as he peered over the edge of the container to see the ‘special gifts’ his husband had brought. Reaching inside to take the smaller of the two lacquered dowels, he turned them around in hand as his lips formed a tight, bloodless line. He didn’t even bother taking the largest of the three out of the box, and instead put its brothers back beside it. He did not bother telling the Prince what he saw