Dark Desires

Chapter Two

Corvina was curled on her bed sobbing and shaking like a leaf in the wind. Cerridwen came in and sat only the edge of the bed. "Would you like to punish the men who assaulted you? They might try it again and they most definitely try it on another girl."
"Lock them away. I never want them to see the light of day," she growled. "I want them to feel guilty forever in a dungeon." She shook uncontrollably and pulled Cerridwen into a hug. "I don't want a husband. Even the men that didn't do it enjoyed watching it." Corvina heaved a heavy broken sob.
"We will have to make sure the men understand that you are the queen and that they have no right to even dare." Cerridwen replied, hugging Corvina closer. "Though those two men you said that interveined. I would like to meet them."
"They're coming for a meal tomorrow and I plan to reward them with knighthoods. Though...I forgot to ask their names today," she muttered and flopped on the bed. "How could I be so stupid?"
"A queen isn't obligated to know everyone's name. You'll simply have to ask them tomorrow." Cerridwen brought her small bare feet onto the bed.
"May I ask something of you Cerridwen," she asked quietly.
"Of course, my lady," The childlike woman replied, her storm grey eyes curious and listening.
Corvina hesitated a moment, "Will you sleep with me tonight and keep me safe?"
"Gladly. If anyone dares hurt you I won't hesitate to protect you." Cerridwen scooted further onto the bed and laid down next to Corvina. She smoothed down her simple black dress and smiled at Corvina.
"Thank you," she replied before calling up two masseuses for them, female due to recent events. "Do you think I should choose one of the two men as a husband? The one is rather trustworthy and sweet, but the other make me nervous and both make my heart race.
"That sounds like a good thing. How exactly does he make you nervous?"
"I don't know. Everything I say sounds unladylike and my tongue gets tied, b-but...his family...I remember that crest from a long time ago," she whispered haunted by memories.
Cerridwen tensed. "What family is he from? What do you remember?"
"The one with the dungeons and the whips. They used the fire and whips to scar me," she whispered while the masseuse tried to relieve the scars of tension. "I remember they would get mad. The big man with the beard...he would laugh while he hit me and when I tried to scream for help he'd hit me harder," she drew in a shaky breath. "Someone used to touch me, but I don't remember who and one day a boy not much older than me stumbled upon me."
"What do you remember of the boy?"
"He was much taller than me and he went to find the key to free me. When he came back there was a bruise along his face, but he had my key. I don't remember much after that. Not of the boy anyhow. I kissed his cheek farewell and ran to the forest. That's where I met you," she whispered.
"Maybe this man is that boy." Cerridwen said, though she highly doubted it. The little woman bit her lip, knowing that the queen had no idea of what happened after. Even Cerridwen knew very little at all about it.
Corvina twisted in excitement but her face fell soon after, "No, that boy was shy. He wouldn't have had the nerve to blatantly ask me to dance."
"I definitely have to meet this man." Cerridwen commented. The masseuse left as soon as the queen fell asleep holding the hand of her guardian sorceress.'

Theron and Taliesin were back at the hut. Theron was pacing yet again while Taliesin watched, frowning. "What's gotten into you," Taliesin asked, knowing that Theron would never care for the queen's safety.
"I only helped her to gain her trust." Theron growled. "She recognized the crest... what is she trying to do..." He added under his breath.
"What do you mean she recognized it, I thought you said she wasn't actually there when they were killed, I thought you said she made her guards do her dirty work," Taliesin asked perking up. "Do you think she knows what we're trying to do?"
"I don't know. If she recognizes the crest then... was she there? Did she just watch?" Theron's anger and pain boiled to the surface and Taliesin could see his turmoil. Being so close to the one who had caused his family to be brutally murdered had set him over the edge
    "She was only ten at the time. Maybe she saw it when they took your uncle's body away? Maybe her overseer had them killed?what if a group went rogue," Taliesin asked, "She doesn't seem like the type that would be able to order someone's slaughter."
    Theron stopped pacing and turned towards his friend angrily, eyes livid. "They were chanting her name. They said it was for 'Injustice towards the future queen'. My family did nothing to them. We helped them we were close and loyal and she had them slaughtered! My uncle's last words were cursing her. The soldiers who slaughtered them told me it was on the future queen's orders. DON"T TELL ME SHE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!" Theron slammed his fist into the wall, hurting his hand and creating a large hole.
Taliesin stood up and walked out in frustration muttering that no ten year old could be that cold. "We have dinner with her tomorrow so pull yourself together or you'll give us away," he called in. Taliesin understood Theron's pain, but he had a different reason to hate the queen. It wasn't the woman herself, but the wars she waged. When Taliesin was 15 she sent his father into battle over an insult to her pride, but his father never returned and later the young man's family was killed by enemy spies that had made it through the border. He had wandered the streets for several months before he had run into Theron. Theron protected him and essentially took care of him from then on.
Taliesin sat outside trying to remember why he wanted someone so young and beautiful to die. As morning light began to shine he saw a royal horse drawn carriage headed toward town for the first time in years. He followed it and watched from behind trees as Corvina stepped out and walked timidly among her people. She handed glittering jewels to anyone passing and gave a small girl a glittering silver tiara decorated in diamonds. The black velvet dress she wore to the ball was taken to a shop and left with the owner to be used as scrap cloth or to be sold to a new owner. After giving what she had she left as of she had never been there.
    Taliesin stood there in shock. The queen just personally gave away her belongings. The little girl ran up to Taliesin and giddily shrieked, "I'm a princess now!"
    Taliesin smiled at her before picking her up. "You always were, Lyn!" He laughed when the redheaded childed stuck the tiara on him and declared him a princess too. He was overjoyed that the the little girl he had frequently seen begging for food was happy.
      "She gives me money and hot food too. Want soup," She asked cheerily. "She says if I think of selling crown for food, just come to the castle and she'll feed me," Lyn giggled.
    "I'm fine thanks for the offer and that's really amazing." Taliesin's opinion of the queen had changed completely.
      "She told me a secret, but you wanna know it?"
    "Oh? What's the secret?"
      "She said she was so sad and she didn't know it was sad out here too. She said that sad times will be over soon," Lyn replied clapping happily.
    Taliesin had to find a way to convince Theron to back down. This was going to be hard. Taliesin set Lyn down and rushed back to where Theron was getting ready. "There's something wrong going on," he nearly shouted.
    Theron immediately turned around, concerned, "What's wrong? Is something going on in the town?"
      "The queen...she went to town. Handed out jewels and gave the old dressmaker her ball gown from last night. She fed Lyn and gave Lyn a tiara. She told Lyn she didn't know it was sad out here. Theron she doesn't know what's going on. Someone is doing stuff in her name!"
    Theron stared at him for several moments before turning away. "I don't believe that.... but I won't completely disregard it. I need better proof. She's probably putting up a false front." He mumbled. He trusted Taliesin but everything in him was telling him that the queen is evil and manipulative.
      Taliesin quieted and began to get ready for the evening's dinner. He had to find a way to save the queen and convince his friend. As he was getting ready he finally realized that the hut was trashed more than usual. Instantly he knew that Theron had a breakdown and was simultaneously guilty and glad he missed it.

Just before sunset a carriage picked the two men up from town and took them to Corvina's castle. The dinner that night was a vegetable and beef stew with rye bread. It was something that would normally be found on the table of someone with just enough wealth to live comfortably. The only thing that stood out was the exotic fruits they had for dessert and the expensive wine that the four enjoyed. "I'm sorry, my heros, that I never properly thanked you last night. I only remember one other boy that saved me when I was small. I meant to ask your names," she said quietly as she took a sip of wine. Cerridwen was watching Theron closely and Taliesin seemed enthralled by Corvina.
    "My names Taliesin." He said, absentmindedly ruffling his shaggy strawberry blond hair and grinning shyly.
    "I'm Theron. The food is delicious." Theron showed no signs of his earlier rage the only evidence being the bandage around his knuckles.
     "I'm glad you're enjoying it," she caught sight of his knuckle and gasped, "What happened," she questioned with concern.
    "Nothing serious. Just an on the job injury." Theron replied cooly. Corvina stood up and knelt by his side. She took his hand and kissed his knuckles as gently as she could.
     "My lady, you shouldn't kneel to anyone," Cerridwen scolded.
     Corvina gave her a sharp look, "I'll do as I please. Have you seen a doctor for your injury," she asked Theron.
     Taliesin's heart ached with jealousy that she was drawn to the man that was hell bent on killing her.
    "Thank you for your concern but I assure you It's nothing serious. There's no need for a doctor for a scrape like this." Theron replied, a bit unnerved by the queen's actions.
       "Then I hope it heals quickly," she whispered to him before standing and sipping at her wine. After a few glasses she was tipsy and giggling, "I demand a dance from one of you."
    "Your majesty..." Cerridwen protested quietly, knowing she couldn't stop the drunken queen.
       "Not from you, silly.... Taliesin...will you pleasure a dance with me? I mean will you pleasure me with a dance," she thought about her words and blushed before taking his hand and in a husky voice simply whispering, "Dance with me." He readily obliged and they twirled around the room accompanied by no music. Corvina giggled and pressed herself close to Taliesin, but their dancing stopped. "B-before I forget, I was going to offer you both knighthoods, but I'd rather you two be my personal body guards."
    "A-are you sure?" Taliesin replied shocked.
    "I'd gladly serve as a bodyguard. Though I also must ask. Are you sure?" Theron repeated his friends question, almost amused by how easy the queen was making it and more than a bit suspicious.
     She giggled, "I don't take back my offers, foolish boys." She kissed Taliesin on the mouth in a drunken stupor before walking over and kissing Theron's cheek. Taliesin blushed scarlet and froze. Theron was taken aback from the sudden kiss and involuntarily blushed himself. Something that was shocking to both Taliesin and Corvina as he had hardly showed emotion. Corvina stumbled back to Taliesin and leaned against him, "Thank you both for a lovely evening. Theron I shall dance with you later." The queen nearly fell as she tried to go up to bed.
    Cerridwen guided them out of the castle and to the carriage. "You can get your items and pack to live in the castle. You will be picked up tomorrow evening." She looked Theron up and down before adding. "I'd like to talk to you both at some point tomorrow."
       "Cerridwen I love them. I love them both already," Corvina cried drunkenly. "I don't want them to be bodyguards I want  a husband!"
    "I highly advise you get to know them better first." The sorcerer suggested as she helped her into bed.
       "Of course, but...but...oh did you see how handsome and sweet they are?"