He brightened, there was a sparkle in his eye that she hadn't seen before, happiness? Hope? He grinned at her words. "You know if it were coming out of the mouth of one of the girls in the basement I could misinterpt that statement." He grinned, laying the broom on the floor as he spoke. He tugged on his silver shirt.

"There is not much time left to us so now would probably be for the best. You honor this old man," he bowed before her as the crow landed back on the window sill with two others. It cawed loudly as if announcing itself to them.

"Witnesses. I'm afraid that we'll have to skip the fancy clothes and such but come," he gestured her closer to his side so that the brow laid to her left, his right as he turned and faced her.

He spoke in that faultless almost musical tone of his though she did not understand the dialect his words were brief. Then he spoke so that she would understand. "Do you Alyina, take Oberron as your husband?"

He paused then staring up at her in silence awaiting her answer.

Alynia bit her lip embarrassed by Oberron's words. Though she had orignally not noticed her obscene words, even she understood the meaning lying underneath them. She suddenly wondered, would he be expecting her.. to act as a wife should.. in bed? Alynia thought over this for a minute, logically if she was now married, there should be nothing holding her back, but she couldn't help but feel unready. Shaking her head ridding herself of such thoughts. She looked up Oberron who seemed happier than she had seen him. Alynia was convinced that he would not make her do anything that she didn't feel comfortable doing. She decided to be glad to do be doing something that pleased him so.

She stood beside Oberron shyly. "Yes... erm I do." She answered blushing a delightful shade of pink while looking down at her hands looking quite lovely. She appeared just as a timid bride should.

The crow turned to face Oberron and asked him the same question, first in their regualr dialect then in english, with a bit of variation. "Do you, Oberron, King of our lands, take Alynia to be your new queen?"

Alynia tilted her head at the formalities only suddenly fully realizing she was in the presence of royalty, something she had known all this time, but didn't dwell upon. Alynia wondered if she should've treated him with more reverence over the short time they had known eachother, but she was silent as she waited for him to respond.

"Of course I do," he answered then to her, "now jump over the broom."

He locked hands with her, jumped as she did then looked at her, smiling. "It is done, see, simple." As he said that the crows flew from their perch leaving them to their own devices. Still smiling and gripping her hand his fingers tracked against the back of her own, he looked at her then.

"Thank you. A sliver of happiness against the sea of darkness. Now, do you wish to place a dampner in Sable's plans?" He asked, gazing at her carefully as she considered his words and attempted to figure out what he had meant.

Alynia didn't know how to respond, honestly in a state of shock. She was now married to a man she had met less than a day ago. It really was a sharp change in the course of her life, but not so much more sharp than the decision for her to sacrifice her life. Understandably, everything was happening rather quickly.To be honest she didn't feel much different from before she was married, until she head him. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest wondering if this was it.

Alynia listened carefully to the wording of his phrase and answered accordingly. “Yes. Of course… but how?” Were her fears being confirmed? Alynia wondered if he intended to show her the real difference of being a married woman. She was nervous and a bit uncertain about what he meant. Concentrating on the warmth of his hand, Alynia willed herself to calm down.

Seeing the dash of confusion in her eyes he smiled leading her back to the table that they had breakfast, the seats more abtly and he saw her seated. The scraps of their breakfast had been gone and Oberron flickered his eyes out to the forest for a long while before he gazed back at her. Again he smiled at her.

"Unfortunately I cannot say ... rules and all and while I would like to tell you it would ruin options, options that I know you would like. Now think, clear your mind. I realize that things must seem to be awfully chaotic. I spied your unconscious form when you where first brought her and either you hail from a distance land or more likely the shadow realm so the stark and sudden change must be a shock, then there's all that happened to you since arriving here and more recently the wedding. I bet you think this is some dream that you'll wake up from but alas it isn't. If only I could weave you a better dream.

"Now think about why you are here. Not what brought you but rather why you are not wasting away in the dungeons waiting for death but placed her like a noble in a tower. What makes you so different?"

He paused for a moment, letting her consider her thoughts for a moment before adding "What does Sable want from you that she cannnot gather from the others? Clearly she intends to kill you all and is willing to allow you to waste away here as she waits knowing that you won't perish in the interim but be quite miserable, hungry, thirsty, but that does not affect her plans. Think, what she wants and what you ..." he fell silent then, grinning as he caught himself and waited for her mind to catch up.

She sat down gracefully letting go of his hand and placed her hands gently on her lap. Alynia couldn't bring herself to look up and make eye contact with Oberron so instead she kept her gaze downward at her hands. She took a moment to think about his words, she was convinced she already knew what he was suggesting.

"She wants youth.." Alynia recalled slowly. "And to do that she needs to syphon energy." Alynia paused. "And she can get more energy from me, because I'm chaste." She blused profusely, even if everyone in the castle already knew it, it was still embarrassing to say.

"Are you saying I should.." She paused "We should.. expel my virginity?" She asked quietly completly clueless on how to respond.

Alynia squeezed her knees together flustered that she actually said it, still unable to create eye contact. She mentally reminded herself that she was a married woman and that he was actually her husband. Also, this was for the best of everyone tormented by Sable by preventing her from recieving the maximum amount of energy possible.

"I-i will accept... if that is what you want from me." She said slowly listening to her own words. Alynia flicked her eyes up at Oberron's making short eye contact, effectively giving him a brief look at her blushing face.

He was grinning as he listened to her vocalize things and walk through her thoughts. He did not say a thing to interrupt her least she loose her train of thought when she seemed to be closing in on the heart of the matter. Not everything of course but the basics were taking root.

Waiting for her to reestablish eye contact with him she could tell that he was still grinning pleased at her insight or perhaps pleased because she could at least stick it to Sable one last time and the great thing was well not so great actually, would be that Sable would find out either last minute or during the conclusion of the ritual, either way she would be powerless to do anything about it.

"No, what I want is inconsequential. It's what you want, though ..." he paused for a moment, turned her face so that she was looking at him, she sitting, he standing, and leaned forward pressing his lips against her own. Warm lips that seemed to crackle over her flesh like the embers of a fire.

When he broke that kiss he smiled briefly. "Well, other than that of course, I've been meaning to do that since I saw you. But how you choose to spend the rest of your time is up to you of course, I'd be content to share in it for what else could I possibly ask?"

Alynia was border line panic, too many things were happening at once. Her mind was overwhelmed incomplete thoughts about sacrifice, marriage, and intercourse tummbling around in her brain. Though less confused, she felt terrified as most girls do when confronted with the idea of losing their virginity for any other reason besides love. Don't misunderstand, she liked Oberron very much and was also forever in his debt but Alynia doubted that she would be able to fall in love with anyone under the time span of a day. She was scared, and distraught unsure of how to respond or what to say...

Until she felt something warm come in contact with her lips. Her eyes fluttered shut, it was a kiss unlike one Alynia ever had before, a kiss from a fey was much more than simple liplocking with a human. She sat there stunned, delighted with the sensation. A rush of warmth seemed to flood away all her insecurities. She opened her eyes slowly. Alynia felt warm, comfortable, but not yet content. She paused before speaking

"I believe it best we wait until tomorrow... Before I give myself to you. The shorter the time between the act and the ritual the less of a chance Sable will be able to discover what had happened." Alynia stated logically.

She tilted her head up at Oberron seeing him in a way she hadn't seen him before. "But please, kiss me again.." she asked shyly.

"Yes, truly wise there ..." he smiled at her and bestowed her with a little nod. "Gladly."

With her sitting and he standing their size differences were easy enough for him to control. He had easier access to her lips and hence his reasoning in seating her in the first place. He leaned in, his lips brushing against her own again.

She could feel the warm tingle radiating from those lips washing throughout her body as they made contact with one another. Then she heard the stretch of the chair as he turned it so that she was facing him head on rather than being side ways to him.

His hands coming to rest on her hips as his mouth pressed back against her. It was faint her, unnoticeable with the light of the day pouring through the window but as he relinquished that kiss when the need to breath was at it's greatest he gazed into her eyes.

"So, what is on the agenda for the evening?" For once he had not focused her mind on the ritual that was suppose to occur tomorrow night.

Alynia relished the inhumane kiss, feel colder as his lips left hers. "Thank you." she whispered with a smile before turning her thoughts to think about what she, or they were to do for the rest of the day. As prisoners, there were very few things for them to actually do. "Why don't you give me a tour of the castle." she suggested hopefully. "We can avoid the guards, as well as the dungeon." she reasoned. "We would have nothing to do if we just stayed up here." she reasoned looking around the empty room. "And it's such a large and magical place. There must be many interesting things to see." she said brightly.

Alynia was genuinely interested in the castle but she hoped by taking a walk together she would learn more about Oberron in a more casual setting. Here was the man who she promised her virginity to. No one could blame her wanting to know more about him.

He nodded already planning to leave the dungeons off the list. There is nothing there anyway. He doubted they would have any real trouble as he manifested the tower key once more. He unlocked the door before peeking out it just incase but there was nothing unusual there so he pushed the door opened and headed out into a landing that lead to the spiral stair case.

"Sadly most of the good rooms are off limits even to me. I suppose I can sneak around in them but know not the magical spells and wards Sable would have in place and since she is vengeful at the best of times I dare not press my luck."

He did as he did the day earlier back tracking through room, doubling back and other wise guiding her through problem areas until he vanished when going ahead.

There was a little commotion from one of the room's and while she could only make out a few words most of it was intelligable to her ears. It was only when Oberron rretuned with a shake of his head that she was able to determine what that as all about.

"They've captured the hunt's man and he did not look to be in the best of shape. He was topless with some sort of pulp on a wound at his side though it looked older then the other cuts and gashes. Sable's shade send him to the dungeon to watch his sister die like the last as he can do nothing but watch the matter.: He shook his head then explained.

"Having a shade is strong magic but common amongst the fey. You shape ice or snow, use some of your blood and give it life. It obeys the creator and has a small piece of their body too, like a strand of hair or finger nail. We fey can just create shadows if strong enough. They melt or dissolve upon death and are quasi real with a fraction of their creator's power.

"I know it is Sable's shade because Sable leaves the mundane tasks to it. She she so paranoid that she believes that she is the only one capable of running a kingdom ,,, what, what is that look about?"

He eyed her carefully perhaps hoping that he misread something behind her eyes or thoughts that he seemed to pick up on or rather deduced.

"It's just that the hunter... I had atleast hoped he would've been able to save his sister." She said sadly before hesitating slightly. "He also saved me from a few of Sable's minions when I was travelling through the woods." Alynia had already mentally told herself that no matter how much she wanted to, she would refrain from asking her husband to help Arn, it wouldn't be fair for Oberron. Maybe if there was a way she could do it herself, she would attempt it.

To avoid suspicion Alynia quickly changed the subject. "What other magic is common among the fey?" She asked though she didn't look completly relaxed. "Where I'm from, magic isn't very common, actually it's not common at all." She rambled pulling Oberron's hand leading them away from the room with the commotion. Alynia stopped talking, she knew she was a horrible lier but she really was trying hard not to think about the hunter. She really wasn't looking where she was going and was rather lost in thought.

Oberron silently regarded her for a moment. Thus far he proved to be rather obssessvant and could deduce thins or was that just a quality that he picked up over the years of being a king.

"Forget trying that on your own. The dungeons are no place for a queen and not safe at all. If it means that much to you I can see what can be done though the guard that perished yesterday will probably be discovered now if it hasn't already.

"Twelve cells, twelve prisoners but one kept in the tower leaves but one empty cell. He's far enough back where they might not readily see him. Common magic among the fey? Do you want to know what the typical fey can do or what I can do now?

"Deceptions and trickery are common. compulsions and the like."

"Are you sure you can't still read minds?" Alynia sighed giving up. "I really dont want you to risk yourself, especially not for my selfish whims." Her eyes met with his. "I won't try anything that will put me in danger." She said raising her hands in surrender.

"Besides. I have a feeling I won't be able to get away from you today." she stated thinking how she isn't even able to escape her own tower without Oberron's help.

She sighed completly defeated only now noticing how heavily she actually did depend on Oberron during the short time she's known him. Alynia tilted her head, surprised at his description of fey magic. "You make it sound so conniving, surely it must atleast be useful. Now could it be that you're just that you're good at lying?" She teased raising her eyebrows playfully.

"Well I must profess that we have silver tongues, some better than others. You're right though about fey magic. It emphasis trickery and deceiving senses. Stealth, we are good at stealth and the typically fey can either generate illusions, go invisible or charm individuals namely attractive men and women. Some fey have all these powers. At the height of my strength I had all three though my compulsions were said to be legendary among our people.

"I'd say there was nothing special about them but they grew until it was legendary then waned after his chapter of my life. But back to your beau, Sable certainly wants to keep me here as well as you though I hardly think she's as concerned with dungeon denziens so they escaping would be a lot easier than you or I attempting the same.

"I have been in this castle for centuries and think I've found all the secret doors, at least in the rooms I have access to. I know of a few secret passages, one escape passage from the castle which shou.d be of help though they still have to brave an escape and transferse the dark wood keast they be spoitted with ease on the pkains."