Huntress (Steve Rogers AU) 18+

22

He danced with only me last night, his eyes never leaving mine once. Like we were the only two in the room. After we left separately as always and resumed the rest of the evening (and early hours) delighting in one another's body. He took his time with me, made sure every inch of me was peppered with kisses, bitten in playful nips or lapped at by his tongue.

It was almost dawn before we fell asleep.

Only just a few hours later we are woken by a knock at the door, Sarah's voice filtering through on the other side. "Steven? Are you awake?"

Immediately I launch out of bed, collect my clothes and dart for the door to my room whilst he quickly covers himself with the sheets, then sleepily declaring "I am now", before the door opens and Sarah walks in.

I close mine quietly but can hear what they are saying in the next room. "Sorry, I just came to tell you that your father is tired from the celebrations. He's cancelling all meetings for today so he can rest".

"Is he ok?" Steve's voice asks with come concern.

"Just how he usually gets, he's not getting any young y'know". Sarah replies. "I thought I'd come and let you know myself. Perhaps you can take the day to get out hunting or something? You haven't done so in weeks".

"Perhaps", comes the absent minded reply. "Although another hour or sleep would be better". There's a hint in his voice for her to let him go back to sleep, which she obviously clocks on to.

"You need it. I'll see you later". She says and moments later the door closes.

With my nightgown now back on, I slip back into the room and turn the lock on the door as the footsteps fade away down the hall. "You won't sleep anymore and you know it". I smirk as I turn back to him.

"Not if you don't come back to bed". He looks at me sleepily from where he's sat up resting back against the headboard. "Come here..." beckoning me with his finger. I walk towards the bed, now crawling up over his body until our faces are just inches apart from one another.

"I can think of something better than sleep". I smile against his lips before kissing them gently.

We don't say another word for the next hour.

**

After leaving Bucky's ass in the dirt at training (much to the satisfaction of Steve and Sam) I head back up to my room to clean up while Steve goes and sees how his father is. He was concerned about Joseph's health and how it has been affected by the recent events. I feel for him, because he knows that soon the time will be near when he'll be taking the title of High Lord from his father. 

Without warning, my door bursts open and in walk a group of guards as I turn and look at them in shock. "What the hell are you doing?" I declare, two of them seizing my arms and now dragging me to the door. "Let go of me!"

This isn't happening. This can't be...

"Hale Aesen, you're under arrest".

They found me...

"What!" I cry, "Are you mad? What the hell for?"

Shit.

Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.

"We've been told on good authority that you're something to be hunted. A Siren if you wanna get technical, but we'll leave your fate in the hands of the High Lord. You're to be summoned before him and the court now, so you either come quietly, or else we'll have to resort to other measures".

Other measures - other measures meaning that they'll inflict pain and whatever else on me just so as they can get me in front of everyone to seal my fate.

I already know what my fate it is. it's what so many of my sisters who have come up against it endured. I already know that last night my guard probably slipped without me even knowing it. Siren hunters could have been lurking in plain sight and I wouldn't have spotted them blending in. So many thoughts are going through my mind right now, but instead I look to the guard who has been speaking to me and hold my head high. "Could I at least go before the High Lord with some dignity left intact. I'm not an animal".

"No, but you're dangerous". He now shackles my wrists together.

Like they could hold me. I could snap them without any effort, but choose not to. They need to see I am not a danger to anyone.

"So let me walk by myself instead of being dragged". I tell him adamantly. At this point there is no point in denying my innocence. They already seem like they know about what I am. Their minds are made up.

A cold blooded murder who lures her victims to their watery graves. 

My thoughts turn to Steve. What will he think? That alone will be the most pain to be inflicted on me. Seeing him.

The guard nods to the other two holding me. They let go but keep to either side. 

"Bring her".