Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Chapter Two: Palma's Gift

Grumbling under her breath, Camelia tugged down the hem of the dusky pink satin chemise that she was wearing; she couldn't believe that she was being sent into a war camp wearing nothing but lingerie and heels. 

Camelia had no idea what her father thought was going to happen but she knew that it wasn't going to work, there was no way that the empire would fall for his ploy; she kept her head down as she was dragged from her home and out into the cold night air. 

Camelia's teeth chattered in the cold, she crossed her arms over her chest feeling her nipples poking through the soft material of the chemise; she didn't care who was staring, she couldn't believe no one had said anything about this. 

Camelia was quickly thrown into the back of a carriage, the men didn't want to waste any time and dragging this out; there was every chance that they would be killed before they even reached the camp. 

Righting herself in the carriage, Camelia again tried to fix the hem knowing that this wasn't going to be fun; her stomach turned knowing that this was the first time that she would see him in five years. 

It scared her and Camelia had no idea what to expect, there was no way that this could be end well and there was no way they could guarantee that she would end up in Cristiano's tent. 

Sitting quietly, Camelia found herself praying that her life wasn't about to get worse; she feared what would await her, she'd had a lot happen to her in the last few years. 

Her son was on her mind, she prayed that her cousins would be able to keep him safe; she might never see him again and she knew that she wanted nothing more than for him to be safe. 

Camelia looked out of the window, she was doing this for him and the hope that if she saw Cristiano that she would be able to tell him all about the little boy.

***

"I am sure General Ronaldo will love this one," the commander laughed grabbing hold of Camelia, he wasn't surprised that the capital was trying to appease them; Palma was losing the war badly and it wouldn't be long before it fell. 

Camelia kept her head down, he had a tight grip on her arm and she knew that men were staring at her; she wanted to tug the hem down on the chemise ever more. 

"Got a thing for blondes that one," the commander joked tugging Camelia towards the General's tent, her stomach turning at his words; she knew that he would have been with other women but she didn't wish to hear about it. 

It was something that Camelia didn't want to think about, Cristiano was free to do what he pleased and she was sure that he would have moved on at some time; she had never expected him to wait for her. 

"You boys should go and have a drink," the commander insisted knowing it had been a long trip for them, they had come a long way to bring a whore to the camp for the General to shag. 

Camelia didn't look back at the two men, they should have left when they had the chance; she knew that things wouldn't end well for them once the commander had taken her away. 

Walking away from the men, Camelia tried to ignore the sound of a sword being drawn; she tried to ignore the sound of the men being killed, she hoped they wouldn't suffer too much. 

It didn't take long for them to reach the tent, it was the largest one in sight and Camelia expected that there would be enough stuff in the tent that would make it feel like home. 

The commander pushed Camelia into the tent before he followed her inside, he smiled spotting that there was no one in the tent but the whore that kept the General company at night. 

Camelia felt sick at the sight of the blonde woman that was sprawled on the bed, she suddenly wished the ground would swallow her up.

"Who is she?" the woman hissed peeking at the newcomer, she was far from happy with the idea that she would have to share the General; she had grown so used to sharing in be in the past few months. 

She had even been offered a place as his personal whore when he returned home to Portugal, there was nothing that she wouldn't do to make sure that she kept that position; she could see herself becoming his official mistress and not just some concubine. 

"Now, now Tamara... you know you have to share," the commander told her, he doubted that the whore would be happy about this; she had made herself quite comfortable in the General's tent since they had landed in the country. 

Camelia was here to stay until the General was bored of her and passed her off to the men to have their fun; it happened with all the gifts that they were given and this wouldn't be any different to them. 

"Now don't kill each other," the commander ordered before he turned and left the two women alone, he had better things to do and he knew that they would be able to entertain themselves until the General arrived. 

The tent was silent for a moment as Tamara admired the other woman, she scoffed at the outfit that Camelia was wearing before she climbed out of bed; she didn't bother to cover her naked body while she moved to pour herself a glass of wine. 

"You know he likes blondes... apparently they remind him of his former lover," Tamara mused knowing that all the women that had passed through the General's bed had been blonde, it seemed to be his type and she was jealous of the former lover that had stolen his heart. 

Camelia kept her face blank, she couldn't help but be surprised that Cristiano only touched women that looked like her; she wasn't sure what to make of that fact after all these years. 

Clicking her tongue, Tamara eyed the other woman knowing that her life was going to be a nightmare from now on; she would make sure that the other woman didn't take her place in the General's bed permanently.

"He'll get bored of you in a couple of days... you'll be given to the men soon," Tamara mused intending to frighten Camelia, she had no intentions of risking her position; no man would really touch her unless the General gave permission. 

It was like she held the highest position of all the women in the camp, Tamara enjoyed being pampered and she didn't care if people hated her; she was going to be comfortable for life if she became an official mistress. 

"They'll make sure you never forget your place," Tamara continued on, she smirked as Camelia just stared at her; she was sure that the woman would be terrified and would mess up. 

If she didn't please the General, then he would get rid of her quicker and Tamara would be back where she belonged; she would be kicked out of this tent to please other men until he was bored with his present. 

Camelia bite into her lip, she didn't say a word knowing that Tamara was just trying to bait her; she wondered how many women had fallen for her tricks in the past. 

It was clear that she was intimated and there was no way that Camelia was going to let her inside her head; she wasn't sure what would happen but she had only one chance to make this work. 

"That's enough Tamara," said a voice and Camelia felt her heart stop, she knew that voice anywhere and she couldn't believe that it was him. 

Tamara bowed to the General before she moved to leave the tent, she was sure it wouldn't be long before she was called back to please him; General Cristiano Ronaldo was a hard man to please.