That night Alynia fell asleep with a warm glow on the inside. Not the roaring fire of passion her husband so often ignited within her, but more like a soft flickering warmth of burning embers. Words of affection, the gentle way he touched her, it was effortless to him but at the same time it made Alynia's heart flutter.

Her laugh tinkled like small chimes, "If I hadnt asked you to be gentle?" She mused thinking it over. Though Oberron usually took careful note of her condition, if she was tired he typically would relent, he never hesitated to push her limits. She jumped slightly as his hand smacked her behind, those brown eyes breifly went wide with surprise.

Then she laughed again, slightly bit more awake. "If I hadnt told you to be gentle, I might have found myself with a very painful backside." She pouted rubbing her bottom. Alynia was glad Oberron didn't "punish" her. How embarrassing would it have been if he had and she left for her task the next day too sore to sit down? Alynia certainly would have had a difficult time explaining that one.

Even though his playful and meandering hands kept her alert for some time, sleep eventually won it's battle as her breathing steadily became slower, and her eyelids felt too heavy to open.

It felt like a short night to Alynia when she woke up. It was early than when she usually got up, otherwise her husband would have been awake or atleast stirring. Perhaps it was the fact that she was leaving today for those negotiations that her mind was simply to anxious to stays unconscious.

Pressing her lips against his warm cheek caused him to shift, but his eyes remained close. Alynia let out a inaudible sigh, feeling this surge of affection. How rare was it that she could her her husband looking so unguarded? A gentle smile was on her lips, as she laid there comfortable and warm simplying admire the king's features.

After a few moments of blissful silence, she squirmed out of her husand's embrace, though however reluctant she was to part from his grasp, and climbed out of bed. Her footsteps trodded lightly to the bathroom where she readied herself for the day.

When the door to the steamy bathroom clicked open, she was wearig nothing but that exposing white towel that clung to her curves. Her hair was still wet and Alynia had been quietly humming to herself, a cheerful romantic melody that immediatly silenced as she was surprised to see her husband still sleeping. Her eyes shifted to the time piece that hung on one of the walls and she took a moment deciphering the symbols and then translating it over back into her own time. It was early, atleast earlier than Alynia usually woke up. She shrugged, but she kept a mental note to let her husband rest as long as he wished.

She first stood infront of a mirror, examining herself this way and that as woman oftenly did before finally the towel disappeared to be replaced with a pretty, bright, salmon colored dress. The skirt was short and flared out slightly, and the top was tight but it was styled in a way covered her modestly enough to travel. Alynia stared at herself a bit longer and sighed, closing her eyes changing the color of the dress to yellow knowing her husband liked that color more.

It was when she was fixing her hair, drying, untangling the. braiding those soft black locks when there was a quiet knock on the door. After briefly checking whether or not Oberron was asleep, and she was haply to find hat she had not ter disturbed him, Alynia made her way across the room holding that unfinished braid to make sure that it didnt unravel. She wondered who could it be so early in the day. She knew it wasnt Mezzo, goblins tended to sleep even more than humans. Perhaps it was Corte or Oswald, who she learned both tended to rise ridiculously early.

She creaked open the door slightly peering with interest at who it was.

Indeed he had not punished her that night, how could he given that she was a bit adventurous as well as relenting and not making him wait the three days until she got back. That and he never seemed to embarrass her too much.

Not to the point where something may have been hard to explain. Embarrassing maybe but even then he left it so she could still explain matters away even if she had to be a little uncomfortable about it.

But he never chose to press her too hard on that front, sometimes he seemed to but there were always safeguards that he had put into place, of course you never really knew if something was misjudged or an illusion with him.

She always seemed to be at peace when she slept and he had still been in the habit of watching her at rest when sleep claimed her before it claimed him. His hands still flowed against her, brushing up and down her side as he continued to stroke her softly as she slept.

When she woke he was still asleep being up for more than an hour at close proximity to her until sleep eventual claimed him as well. He was a custamary early riser though the hour was still early though she got ready for the day despite having wom her wager the night before. It was like waking up on Christmas morning though this was a mix here, a little anxious at being sent away, yet a little excited to at being given her first assignment. Oberron was confident that she could handle this and part of her wanted to do this for him to prove that his faith in her had not been misplace.



Oswald was up early. He always was. He had come to the castle last night to be close at hand and while he was unaware of when they were departing his guess meant that it wasn't going to be until after lunch. No doubt that the king and queen tried out the new shoes and would have had to travel through Shadow to get to the nearest volcanoe. Even that would take some time and he was sure that the pair got back later that night, they were gone when he arrived though he was busy in his work shop and didn't jnow when they got back with the goblin, so he justassumed a few things that had not happpened.

He had gotten two new tool kits back on that holiday Alynia wished to celibrate so he left one out and packed one up in the portable hole that Oberron told Corte to get for her. He also packed up his sketch book with all his designs, plenty of materials and folded up the hole to set in his pocket.

He was busy now getting out the stones from the vault and had to go through all manners of guards and defenses to get them out as were Oberron's orders. The stones were in the first vault so someone varifid their removal by Corte and did not have to disturb the king at all about this matter. The minor objects were kept in the first and second vaults and needed Corte's approval, stuff in the third vault only the royals could approve of.



Alynia answered the door and there was a dark hair elven guard in the corridor. His green eyes had been radiant, his armor a light greeen leather and his sword shealthed at his side the pommel being designed with falling leaves. She had not seen the guard before though their were many guards and he could have been amongst them.

“Your Highness.” He knelt and bowed his head. “I hope that I am not disturbing you. I have information for either your or the king's ears alone. May we speak if the king is unavailable. This will only take a moment.”

Alynia was doing up her hair as when there was a soft polite knock on the door. Her long black hair secured in a single braid tied at the end with a salmon colored ribbon that complimented with the color of the bright yellow dress. She gave herself one last glance in the mirror before taking quiet steps to the door. Before answering it she gave her husband one more quick glance, making sure that he was still sleeping. The last thing she wanted to do was to wake him up. Quietly she clicked old the door, prepared to greet Oswald, Mezzo, or even Corte with a bright "Good morning."

But she was caught by surprise. For a brief moment, Alynia blinked curiously at this unexpected visitor. It was a guard, though not one Alynia was familar with. He had black spiky hair, bright green eyes that went well with his a angular features. Naturally he was handsome, as practically every creature was in this realm with a few expections.

There was a minute where she was silence, Alynia had really expected it to be Oswald. She tilted her head in confusion, raking her brain trying to see if she knew how to address the gaurd, but finding nothing she could only accept that this was probably the first time they have encountered.

"Please rise." She told him quietly with a gentle smile. Even all these years, Alynia could never help but feel a bit flustered whenever someone bowed to her, for she had never been in a position of any sort of power before meeting Oberron. Alynia had always been the one bowing to her father or his business partners. Of course she had gotten slightly used to being on the other end over time, it was only natural for everyone, besides Oberron who was more influential than she and Mezzo who truely didn't didn't know any better, bowed.

Infact she was also still a bit weary on being addressed as royalty as a whole, but formalities are formalities so she accepted the titles. "Your highness" "My Queen" and many more. Thankfully Alynia's closer friends simply just called her by her name making life just a bit less filled with decorum.

"No it's fine, I was just getting up anyway. Though the king is still resting." She assured casually, though her eyebrows furrowed slightly upon hearing something about rather important information, atleast for their ears only. "Alright then." Alynia responded stepping outside the room, standing in the corridor that lead to the master bedroom. "If it's something the king should no later as well, I'll just relay the message to him later." Alynia explained.

She hoped that this news wouldn't be anything bad, though she had a feeling it wasn't going to be anything from her own castle. If that had been the case then it was more likely for Corte to come up himself than for him to send a guard of some sort. "What can I help you with today?" Alynia askedthe elf after closing the door behind her with a soft inaudible click. "Oh and please tell me your name too."

Indeed Oberron was still sound asleep as the knock came in though the knock did not see to stir him any being light enough to be heard though not loud enough to disturb them had she still been asleep. It was not whom she expected as the door opened.

Mezo, as she already knew was more nocturinal then anything and tended to sleep most of the day if he could though their were days he'd rise “early” around noon especially on the days that they had made plans to play hide and go seek.

The goblin was back to finding her more often than not seeking out those areas of irritating flowers first assuming that she would be hiding in or near them rather than in open areas where often he could smell the perfumes that lingered on her from days ago and still find her.

Oswald was always up early it seemed though would he willingly pull hiself from his shoes if he had a question or concern that could have waited and if it had been Corte the knock would have been louder, more urgent since he would have bothered the royals only if there were something important to deal with.

So as the door opened revealing the elven soldier she was at a loss as to what was going on here.

The elf made his announcement though he did not seem to be under any duress so the matter seemed urgent enough to see the royals about but not urgent enough to disturb them if they were asleep. She appraised the situation rather quickly and could assume this. Was it important enough to wake her husband or could she deal with this herself? Or perhaps she should listen, make a judgement call then wake her husband if it seemed important enough.

The elf got back to his feet at her command after displaying the proper etiquette though she didn't think she knew him by name and he was probably “unimportant” enough to use any titles. If he were a knight of the fey she would have probably remembered seeing him at one ball or another but that simply was not the case here.

He waited until she was in the hall before he had been bid to continue. “I have news of the goblins in the West. Clearly you have already heard of the apparaent sabotauge of the elf-dwarf mediation when the dwarven thane Crom Bilbom was kidnapped by the goblins.

“It is not by the obvious schemes of Pog, the chieftain of the Rune Carvers either but someone that you are very familiar with my queen.

“Someone working for the woman known by Martsen who resides with the tribe of goblins but is not the only human currently there.

“As for a name, you already know it.” He paused as she searched her mind for a name but could not readily come up with one. The elf smiled. “Well, I cannot fault you from not recalling it at the moment as I often appear much different than this.

“You may call me Shadow if you like, dear ...”

"Very well, Shadow." Alynia responded with a curious expression. "Not a very common name for fey" she remarked casually. Something felt strange, for he was treating her so formally one second, and so friendly the next. What did Shadow mean when he said how she already knew his name and how he usually appeared much different than this?

"If you don't mind me asking, are you a part of the royal guard?" Alynia asked tilting her head uncertainly. There was this lingering feeling that she should know or atleast recognize this man, by her mind was drawing blanks. "I'm sorr-" she cut off her sentence remembering her husband's playful scolding when she apologized too much. "I'm afraid I do not recognize you, but it does not matter. I don't have the best memory of faces." She remarked sheepishly.

This was not entirely true, for Alynia thought she remembered people she met, however briefly well. Atleast she was confident she knew the members of Oberron's royal guard. Alynia shrugged off her mild suspicions. She decided, or atleast she hoped that she was simply overreacting. Besides, she didnt know this Shadow well enough to really judge based on character yet... Who knew? Perhaps he was like this all the time, besides it it more difficult to to find elves as serious as Corte anyway.

Alynia sighed, no she had not yet heard about the goblins kidnapping Crom yet. Oberron probably intended to tell her later on, but the couple got very sidetracked last night. Alynia blushed the slightest bit, her knees squeezed together simply recalling up the memory.

She thought about it a little, how much would this really effect her assignment? Of course the sound of hearing goblins interfering was never a good thing. "If Crom is not available, who will be negotiating behalf the gnomes?" Alynia asked professionally. She hoped that nothing would be so violent during the workings of the negotiation. Alynia really saw no reason for there to be, what did the goblins or the witch have to gain from sabotaging the meeting?

The witch was another matter too. Alynia had never seen but certainly she had heard of her. Most of the time the devilish woman caused smaller disputes, goblin attacks, she never really had pushed herself into the main scheme of things before. Very much she preferred sitting safely behind the repugnant goblins she so adeptly controlled.

"What do you mean by I'm very familiar with?" She inquired tilting we head with confusion. From what Alynia got, and if Shadow's information was correct there was a human living with the goblins as well as the witch. But Alynia was almost positive she didn't know all to many humans in this realm though she knew there were a few. There was Kim, Arn, and her as well but she doubted any of them would be willing to commit and sort of kidnapping or side with the witch.

He saw the suspicions coursing through her mind. He also knew that she felt relatively safe here, after all Oberron was so close to here that nothing could happen right? But if he were an assassin he would have already killed her before she uttered a sound. As luck turned out he was not an assassin. He watch her course through the matter in her mind a little.

She was struggling to recall who he actually was without much success in the matter.

“No, I am not a royal guard.” He looked as if checking that they were alone before leaning forward, his voice dropping to a near conspiratal whisper. “I am not even a guard ...” He straightened then, smiled though made no threatening movements.

It had not been unheard of for the fey to pull pranks and rouses given that illusions seemed innate to most. Would her station protect her from such rouses? Perhaps, she could not remember being on the receiving end of too many pranks save for rouses really and even then those were her husbands doing unless she was forgetting something trival that she had forgotten over the years.

“A young hot head by the name of Demarco Boulderdash has come from the mountains in his place. He of course will argue about dwarven ancestory and think little on dwarvish mining destroying elven forests. It looks as if your work may be cut out for you. The elves are sending Ralse Silverwood, I believe you are familiar with him. He is Diamond's chief guardian. In truth since he is not nobility the Marquesa will be there but will differ to his suggestions nonetheless. He has been trained for this sort of thing.”

Shadow sighed a little and casually folded his hands against his chest as he leaned back against the wall as he regarded her appraisingly. It was not that sort of look that she received albeit secretly from most fey who were looking at her the way a man looks at a women, no this was more a look as if he were determining how capable she was.

“Oh, I wouldn't want to ruin your fun about this discover your Highness but I will at least meet you half way and tell you of this other human. He too is someone that you are quite familiar with who has been assigned to do the witches bidding for the most part. He is your fiance, Ian. Remember him? I have not gotten all the particulars of how he got her and his agenda save for one day aspiring to wear Oberron's crown as his own. All I know is he is the consort of the witch. That she has bound to him an ancient spirit that has increased his fighting prowess impressively. Who knows what else she has done to here though it is quite apparent that she does not deisre to trust the goblins with this task.”

Shadow paused for a moment and seemed to think.

“For whatever reason she wants to distrupt these talks. I have some suspicions as to why she has done this but they are only logical guesses at this stage.

“For instance, high on the list is that there is something on or in the land she wants and while the elves and dwarves squabble about this or that she has time to extract it for her own purposes. What it is if this is even a valid thought has not really entered into my mind as of yet other than the fact that it is probably some sort of necromantic device that is taboo to the fey but would increase her power.

“Why else would she taking a more active hand in this matter? Of course … no, I think I have said to much Milady.”

It was as if Shadow was sharing secrets with a life long friend. Alynia blinked, very confused as a cold shiver ran down a spine. Not a guard? Then who was he? And why was he telling her these things? She had taken a small cautious step back as she noticed he was watching her with a playful smile. It was not a malicious smile, one that just seemed to enjoy her confusion. Thankfully, he didnt seem to have the intent to harm but still Alynia felt a bit uneasy.

Was it possible this was some kind of joke? Alynia considered this, but it was rather unlikely though not entirely out of the question. She guessed it didn't mAtter all too much as long as the information he was supplying her with was credible.

She pondered over the names of the three candidates coming along. It was true that Crome was much easier to get along with than Demarco who would be much less open to any kind of compromise. Still, even though Alynia did have the final word of course she wanted a way that would satisfy everyone there.

Alynia knew Ralse, the Marquis, and Diamond though only in a passing. She had met the three of them at a ball in the past and had even danced with the Marquis and Ralse before. Diamond, she only knew because first of all she was the Marquis's wife and second because she often danced with Oberron at these formal gatherings.

Distracted from her thoughts she noticed Shadow was eyeing her. Alynia felt uncomfortable, self conscious even though he obviously was not eyeing her in any way that was inappropriate. It was more as if he was sizing her up.

Alynia was thankful when he continued to explain though his next words cause more of a shock to the girl. "Ian?!" She gasped, wide eyed in complete disbelief. Obviously she remebered him, how could she forget? "W-what on earth is he doing here?" She muttered coldly under her breath. Was it possible he had came all this way to torment her? She really could not think of any better explaination. The odds that another human had been introduced to these magical lands and it just happened to be her fiancé were simply too slim to be a coincidence. She just knew that some how it was tied to her.

More so, he wished to usurp Oberron's crown? It didn't matter of the witch increased his fighting abilities, Alynia knew he would be the same immature, perverted, arrogant husband to be he always was. It was rare for Alynia to hate anyone, but more than readily she categorized this man along with Gersham and Esper. Memories on him trying to force himself upon her surfaced, Ian always tried to touch her whenever her father was not present.

Ian might have been lauded by others of his looks and his intelligence, but everything else about him was sick and twisted. It wasn't difficult for Alynia to learn that if she had become his wife she would've been nothing but a toy to him. She shuddered, Alynia had never even told Oberron about her dreaded fiancé, simply because she wished more than anything that she would forget about him, that somehow he would disappear. It had almost worked to. After being with someone as loving as Oberron she had not thought about Ian for years. Obviously this was going to change.

She could barely listen as Shadow continued to speak of her reasoning, but Alynia tried. She let it a breath as he seemed to be finished speaking. "T-that's a lot to take in." She began. "I'll certainly find a way to deal with it all." Alynia sounded a bit more confident. "Thank you, then that will be all." She stated promptly dismissing him. Alynia needed time to organize her thoughts.

She gave the mysterious man a brief nod and a small smile before going back into her room. Alynia let out a frustrated sigh as the door was closed behind her. She wondered on what she should tell Oberron, for if he knew she might be in danger she wasn't so sure if she would be allowed to go on her assignment. At the same time she hated hiding things from him, but she was so afraid of his response to hearing she was engaged before she married him

He deliberately made her feel uneasy as she took that half step back nearly instinctively but he had not pressed in to cut her off or keep that short distance between them. She did not know if that were a good thing or not. It was as if he were unafraid of Oberron who was so close or perhaps he knew that even if he awoke now he was too far away to do much of anything as powerful as he was. That was a sheer absurdity to think that this man thought himself that much faster but how eles could she explain it?

If it were a joke she was still waiting on the punchline as Shadow seemed far more relaxed as he leaned up against the wall, regarding her, judging her nervousness, the worry that had her taking a cutious step back.

He watched her formulate he thoughts though without intruding on them as they ran their course.

“Yes, Ian,” he smiled as the name sank within her. “I know not all the particulars but believe the witch deliberately drew someone here that was tid to you, someone that knew you and could get into your head better I persume. I'll hnow more when I find out her objectives but she needed a face outside of the goblins she could confide in which I assume. All I know for certain is that he wants to take Oberron's crown for whatever reason ...” Shadow fell silent reflecting on the issues he had brought up.

He realized that the queen had been surprised by what he had to say though. He considered the hostility, the revulsion that was there within her body language. He observed her tense up, opposite of his state as he glanced at her casually.

“You do not approve of him? And here the queen was thinking abot you with a more personel touch. She expects yoy to go to this mediation too, if you to not go it will only grow worse for you as she will strike when you least expect her too, what you can do with this information I do not know but it concludes that she has some sort of interest in you if she summoned up Ian. Perhaps she feels that Oberron will come for you and she can kill or imprison him then tranforn Ian to look like youur husband.

“It is imperfect, what of your mind in the whole process of this? Does she plan on corrupting you or doing something far more insidious. You do realize that the fey are horrendous with necromantic energy but the witch excels at it …

At being dismissed Shadow simply nodded, turned on his heels and walked away, his word jingling against his hip as he moved away though he had never looked back upon the queen as he left her to contemplate all the things he had to say as well as some of the cojecture that he was making about certain elements as far as what was far more likely than anything else.

As the door closed her decision had to be made quick as a single violet eye peaked open, saw that Aly was dressed and thus he sat up, stretched and yawned a little as his eyes blinked open.

“It's still early … you won the wager last night so why are you up so early unless you were intending to skip out while I was still sleeping of course ...”

Alynia had never been one who was difficult to read. They way hwr body tensed at his name and the way her eues blinked in confusion clearly told Shadow her feelings toward her fiance. If Ian was summoned to mess with Alynia, she resolved that she would not let such information bother her... No matter how much it did. She would not let him or that witch get to her... Most importantly she would definitely not let him or that witch get to Oberron.

Memories of Gersham surfaced as Alynia's body shivered slightly. Because back then she was so dependent on her husband, she lived her inprisonment with absolute fear. It was her desperation to keep her husband away hat lead to her eventualThe last thing she wanted was to become bait again.

Meanwhile Shadow appeared completely at ease, if not actually enjoying her reaction. Alynia shook her head stubbornly. She didnt like hearing the possibilities of what the witch had in store for her. Either way, what ever plans Martsen had in store, Alynia would certainly do the best she could to make sure that they fail.

She watched as Shadow promptly turned and left, leaving the girl alone with her jumbled up thoughts. What he said was true, if Alynia didn't go to the mediation then she would never know when the witch would strike atleast by going to would be prepared. If there was one thing she knew it was that she was going to the negotiations. Not showing up would just mean she was still scared of Ian, and Alynia did want to appear weak.

The only thing was, what was she going to tell Oberron? She closed the door quietly behind her but it seemed that even such a small sound reached her husband's ears. She spun around as his voice, Alynia had honestly expected that he would still be asleep.

Her lips couldn't help but smile at his groggily formed sentences. She shook her head. "If I was trying to leave without you knowing, I wouldn't have done a very good job of it." Alynia pointed out. She put on a thoughtful expression for she still hadnt decided what she should tell him. The last thing Alynia wanted before was to wake him, now it was for him to be angry.

Alynia climbed onto the bed besides him and pressed her lips against his. "Good morning" she muttered sweetly before sitting up on the edge of the bed. "Shadow came to speak to us earlier." She began wondering if Oberron would recognize the name. "Mentioned something about Crome being kidnapped and Demarco taking his place. Then there was something about Martsen." She paused briefly gazing at Oberron seeing his expression. "It seems that she has it out for the mediation, and I think it might be because of me." She sighed

Shadow could clearly see the effects of his words on the queen as if she wanted to disbelieve it was true. Even the way in which she tensed up at the mere thought as she traced that name and the signiface this meant for Llynoria. She had not thought about summoning between realms and that thought was freightening. If the witch could do that what was to stop her from entering into a deal with something to the likes that her husband could not even deal with?

Certainly, Oberron was powerful but he was not known as a creation deity but rather the storms seemed to be associated with him. He control them based on his moods and since meeting her it was usuall sunny and warm unless she had requested a change in weather.

Shadow seemed to delight in the news that he brought. He had not gloated over it though he could not resist tossing out his oinion on what was more likely than not. On what bases was he judging this? She could not really say for certain. How he gleaned his insights could have been typical fey thinking about the logical.

But some of the possibilities made sense too. She might not have wanted to become bait again, she was stronger now when she first got her for now she could deal with most of the minor stuff without having to worry about it.

But to be captured by that witch to draw out Oberron … and why had she brought Ian into the fold? Why had she been so interested in her – an absurd thought entered into her mind then but was quickly dismissed as not being possible, right. She had no idea that this thought had not been her own but rather one that had been projected into her mind … what if the witch was Titiania? A twisted mockery infused with necromantic energies … poweful enough to summon between Shadows and spiteful of her getting in the way with Oberron. Not possible, the fey were horrible at necromantic spells, Marsten wasn't, ant if it were Titiania wouldn't she have had a loving reunion wuth her husband ages ago? Didn't Gersham kill her? Perhaps he restored her as a twisted mockery to torment his brother.

She shuddered as the thought hit her but was gone almost as quicmly as it had came.

Oberron was still a little weary as he glance again at the clock, well, they had not been sleeping too long …

“True … I still have not given you your own Winds so I would have caught up with you and overtooken you before long. But until my arms grow another ten feet I would like you over here.” He suggested. Waiting for her to comply before drawing her down on the edge of the bed. He kissed her on the cheek on account of morning breath so to speak. His hand stroked along her arm and if he wasn't so groggy he might have picked up that there was something wrong though with Oberron you could never tell what he knew and pretended not to know because it suited him.

She came over to the bed but was not content with the kiss to the cheek and for perhaps the first time she got to remind him that she was unconcerned with such things. To his credit he was often up before her and their situation was reversed though he never seemed to mind.

His eyes widened at that name. His sword summoned to his hand at once. He leapt up out of bed and instantly he was clad in clothing but by the time he sprand to his feet he concluded that the demon was already gone. Shadow … he was back too?

But the sword was dismissed and she explained what the demon had come for and he sat back down. He too sighed. “Corte told me about the whole Crom, Demarco thing …. I did not think much more of it then it being a goblin-dwarf thing. Marsten complexes matters though the information is coming from Shadow … he's a tough read … either he wants you to go to foil Marsten and her plans or stay away and cause her to alter her plans, I believe he is attempting to keep her occupied through you.

“Shadow is the son of Darkness, he is a demon in Gersham's court though I am unsure of his allegiance.”

She sighed as he pulled her down beside her kissing her gently as his arms caressed her arm. His hands almost made her forget about what was troubling her, in fact the way he was behaving almost made Alynia regret dressing so soon. She kissed him back gently, her hand finding a way to lace with his.

Alynia gave in as she climbed fully onto the bed besides him, resting her body against his as she spoke. Making sure that her words were chosen carefully, she still wasn't so sure what to do about the whole situation with Ian. She felt terrible hiding things from him, she really did. But what was the point of bringing it back up if the very fact was something Alynia strived to completely eradicate from her memory? Still, the king had told her things of his unspeakable past it was only fair to return the favor.

She was just about to mention something abot her fiance when suddenly Alynia jumped back as Oberron leaped up upon hearing the name of who she had just spoken to. A sword at hand, his body was rigid. She blinked, it certainly seemed like Shadow was someone Oberron would truly prefer her to stay away from. It wasn't until he was sure the demon was gone did he return to the bed.

Alynia was still in shock. "A-a demon?" She wondered, truly the last thing she had expected. From Gersham's court too. Her eyes closed briefly as if expelling negative thoughts. "That was really dangerous of me..." She admitted rather glad Shadow's loyalties were not defined. How easy it would've been for him to kidnap or even kill her right then. Alynia shook her head, there was no way for her to have known!

"I was a bit afraid that you would try to stop me from going after hearing about the witch." Alynia stated. "But even if its dangerous, I really want to go." She reassured. "I'll be honest, I don't think I'll fair very well against the witch." Alynia sighed. That much was obvious. "But it won't just be me, elves, dwarves, guards too." It almost sounded like she was reassuring herself more than him at this point.

Alynia paused, her gazed shifted slightly. "And I think I need to tell you something." She bit her lip slightly still completely uncertain of what she was going to tell Oberron. Alynia would have never guessed that her arranged marriage from so many years ago would come back to haunt her. She was worried, it was almost the same feeling when Alynia revealed to her husband that Gersham had taken advantage of her, except when it came to Ian nothing had happened yet. But there was always the slight fact, an arranged marriage could be like a promise? Certainly she was no stranger when it came how promises bound the fey.

Her lips parted to speak as she peered back at her king, melting at the full gaze of those deep violet irises. Suddenly worry overcame her internal struggle. What if he renounced their marriage after hearing tha she had originally been "promised" to another? He wouldn't leave her would he?

Alynia rolled over slightly so she was lying ontop of him and she kissed him on the lips without a hint of concern that he just had waken up. "I just wanted to say that I love you. Last night you told me I don't tell you enough." She muttered kissing his neck. Alynia couldn't do it, she simply was too afraid of losing him to tell him about Ian now. Besides at this point it was unlikely Ian still regarded Alynia in the same regard anyway so even if it was this remarkable coincidence, it shouldn't matter anymore.

"Never anyone else my husband. My heart belongs to you." Alynia leaned upward smiling down at him gently leaning in for a final kiss. "And you need to wash up my king." There was a sly look on her face as she lifted his hand and gently guided one of his fingers in between her lips. She suckled very light barely even wetting the digit. "Theres still sometime before it would be ideal to go. How about I join you?" She suggested innocently.

Could this be a distraction from what she was reluctant to tell him? Perhaps. Did she legitimately mean her suggestion? Of course, what was a better way to start off one's day? Besides, one could never be clean enough.

That was the good thing about his magic, he could strip her even fix her hair with the ease of his magic so being ready didn't always quench that desire of his. He had not strip her, not yet, he was fond of the yellow dress and bright colors tended to attract his attention more than something far more drab. For the time being though he was content to hold his wife close to where he had been. He drew in the scent of her perfume as he drew her close and knew that if she were were fey she would have all those elves and dwarves swooning …

But this was his Aly and he knew better …

Oberron dismissed her concern with the shake of his head … “Yeah, a demon but even I can't work out his angel, he seems so full of contradicts. Apparently, I have learned, he is the avatar of another entity of the denonic persuassion, Darkness … yet he seemes to have his own independent thoughts and personality but if he is back it means that something is brewing … I know he is more powerful than Gersham but for some reason is subservient to him, I guess he just does what the Darkness tells him to do.

“But it is not your fault, you did not know … there are areas of the castle that you cannot trabsport into perhaps I should set something up to dispel illusions too.” Oberron sighed at the recent development, it would be done before she returned back to the palace in a few logical places.

Oberron considered, she still wanted to do this even with the apparent dangers? He grinned at her. “I will worry but I am proud that you are not letting this deter you. Even so, there are a few precautions that I want you to take. One being a ring that reflects magic and wards your mind against mental attacks and in addition to Oswald I want you to take Zy with you, she's an accomplished wizardress who may be more than helpful …

“The ring I will enchant to be invisible. If you go missing I will go to Avalon so you can use the ring at your leisure … we know that the witch wants to capture you, perhaps we should let her for a little while at least, learn her plans then thwart them. I hate casting you in such a role, Aly, but now you can handle it. I will also get a magical pair of earrings for you, that onced used can summon up someone that his keyed to them. It might take an extra day to get them ready but I don't think that anyone will think much of me keeping my queen here for another day, especially if we do not leave the room adding to the ruse ...”

There was a time where he would have sheltered her but now he showed how willing he was to allow her a free hand with this or perhaps he felt this was the best way to get information that they were better learning sooner than later …

He was curious at what elese she had to tell him but he seemed oblivious to Ian and so when she rolled atop him and kissed him her returned that kiss with interest. Her words had not been a lie either, a natural prgression of her deeds so he seemed to thing nothing of it, hands encasing her hips, rubbing gently as he peered up at her.

“I love you too, Aly … informing Zy or getting the rings could wait for now all he wanted to do was get “clean” he knew full well what she was implying there and only grinned as he got uo of the bed with her help.

“I don't know, it's going to take a lot of scrubbing ...” And he grinned as he lead her off to the bathroom ...

Alynia ruminated on the ideas of the darkness, the demon. She didnt like hearing that somehow his character could somehow tie back into Gersham. Her mind briefly flickered to the the Unseelie Prince's silver haired accomplice. Esper was a demon wasnt she? And Gersham was half demon... Was it possible they were all acting under this Darkness Oberron was talking about?

There were ominous signs, without a doubt someone was planning something malicious or worse. Shadow's return, Crome's kidnapping, Martsen's sudden involvement, and perhaps worse of all Ian's return...

It was true, she did feel a bit guilty hiding some facts from Obberron, and she seldom did anything of the sorts but it wasn't as if she had ill intentions. In fact her intentions were innocuous for she just wanted to give Oberron less to worry about.

Oberron assisted Alynia up from the bed before she tugged on him as well. She blushed but hand in hand she followed her husband enthusiastically to the bathroom. Alynia didn't find it very difficult to push her concerns to the back of her mind as the bathroom door clicked shut, and the water began running from the magical spout.

They were upon eachother, perhaps unconsciously (though unlikely) unsatisfied from the night before. Her stress, her fears and worries all melted away with the steam that rose up from the warm water. She was happy to help him undress and he did not hesitate to do the same to her. In a haze, Alynia's lips were trying to kiss and suckle every bit of open flesh a available, littering his chest with tiny love bites and hickeys.

It was only after Oberron was hard and throbbing and the scent of her own arousal evident in the air did they actually step under the plesant stream of water. The shower was big, there was much room to be versatile. But first her bare back was slammed into the wall. In the mood to experiment slightly, Oberron lifted one of her legs over his shoulder pressing against her until she really was resting on him like a split.

He had learned she was flexible relatively recently, and Alynia assumed he wanted to test out how she lithe her body really was. Though it was uncomfortable at first due to her being unstretched out, he was gentle and slow as he manipulated her until her muscles adjusted to the strain. It was safe to say she had pleased or atleast met his expectations.

In only a matter of time he had her clutching to him, one hand digging into his back, another woven into his wet hair as she squeaked and moaned in agonizing bliss. The pulsating sensation as the water rained down on their flushed, joined bodies only heightened her sensitivity.

It was hours before they were both deemed cleansed and sated. The water had stayed warm the entire time, a small but fantastic thing how the water was always a perfect temperature, even the steam seemed to help maintain the room's climate. She was the one who reached to turn off the water. She let out a final sigh of pleasure kissing her husband briefly before trying to organize her thoughts from that incoherent sexual disaster her husband always reduced her too. Alynia's legs were a wobbly mess as she stepped out from their shower, reaching for that fluffy white towel to dry herself off.

It was indeed a possibility that they wer eall working for Darkness in some way that she had yet to discover but then the question remained as to why Shadow told her. Was this a simple warning made ominious now due to the fact that she had discovered that it came from a demon and not a fey …

Still she had to figure out his angel here.

By giving her King something less to worry about was she infact making it worse should he eventually find things out on his own, not that she had considered that being too likely but Ian was an ass … was, no, is unless something had drastically changed since the last time she had seen him something which she doubted of course …

It was possible that he would gloat with her King revealing something in time though this matter could wait thus far.

But Oberron had not a reason to be concerned just yet about anything that his wife might have been concealing if only for the time being and he was soon distracted by a flurry of kisses, the steam of the shower and that warmth pressed against him and eventually around him to care.

She always pleased him of course though it was her own lack of self confidence that had always left her with a little bit of doubt as to their coupling. Their skin glowed brightly as they came together, their heavenly glows mixing together as he explored her, experimented with her and stretched her this way and that after learning that she was fairly flexible not that long ago he was more than willing to try out new things. After three years he made this gem of a discovery, and given the nature of his wife she had not brought this up sooner but allowed him to discover this on his own.

Sated for the time being after coupling for so long Oberron changed her iternary slightly. He needed time to get everything together for her safety after all and so he delayed her departure for another day. Oswald grumbled a little at having to unpack the shoes he was working on to apply his craft to them again.

He had a second tool kit and did not have to unoack his tools at least. That afternoon he explained the stones to her, hou to answer them was a simple matter, the stone would turn yellow and she'd have to queeze it twice turning the stone t9 a green when she communicated to the other, Olacing a call was just as easy for all she had to simply squeeze it turning the stone reen then speaking normally. The stones were only linked to each other and used in military actions.

Attempt two, the following day Oswald packed back up and Alynia was given two earrings, the first summoned Corte for an hour before sending him back, the secon far more powerful summoned Oberron for 15 minutes before whisking him back. While summon they could not die in the true sense, if killed they would just be sent back to where they had been summon.

Next she was given a ring that would reflect magic caast at her. If she were in the blast of an evocation the spell would effect her as normal. Zy was added to her retinue of guards to be on the safe side. She knew magic and could dispel magic if need be.

Oberron was about to see his wife off. “Now you will be alright. If I cannot get in touch with you via the stones I will go to Avalon. I will contact you through the stones to get in contact with you.” A hand closed around her hand and the new ring concdntrationing and making that one invisible as well. He wished there was another way, he did not wish to use her as a guinea pig so to speak though this was perhaps the easiest way to do things.

Another day then, her trip postponed another day. Alynia expected that perhaps Oswald or even the elves and dwarves would be irritated at the delay. At first, even she was a bit reluctant to wait a whole other day, but she soon discovered that truly the extra time would be beneficial to her mission on a whole.

Oberron might have wanted her to stay simply to be with her, but Alynia thought the time was put to good use. She spent a few hours in the library brushing up on the history between the two clans, some politics as well. She spent some more time working on her magic as well. It was difficult adapting to the less enchanted atmosphere here in Llynoria apposed to Avalon, but with her husband acting as a gentle guide Alynia thought she was doing quite well. Perhaps enough to be able to fend off a few or more so goblins without need of assistance. Alynia even had the time to leave behind a batch of brownies, intended for Mezzo, but certainly for others as well.

Certainly she was relieved as Oberron finally taught her how she was going to be able to communicate with him while she was gone, and even more so when she discovered how easy the stones really were. They didn’t look like anything spectacular; a smooth pearly medium sized stone that if she held it up to the light appeared slightly translucent. Still they were superbly useful, and easy to carry around.

This little device was not the only thing Oberron gave her as he did not hesitate to gift her jewelry as well. A pair of small earrings too, a lovely silver set each encrusted with a single midnight blue jewel. One to summon Corte, another to summon him, all she had to do was to cast a simple incarnation on the correct earring for who she would need help from.

But it did not stop there. “Oberron, I don’t think I need-“ She had tried to protest that she would be protected enough, but he gave her the ring anyway. A simple silver band with a ruby encrusted in the middle of it. When Alynia gave it a closer look she realized that there were runes or something of the sort engraved around it.

He even added another to her party, Zy who Alynia learned was an accomplished wizardess. She was a tall woman with wispy long brown hair who seemed friendly enough. The queen had never seen her before this for Zy lived somewhere recluse out in the woods. She and Oswald were acquaintances it seemed as they mentioned how it had been a long time since they last saw each other.

Wearing a casual loose fitting dress and a low pair of heels, courtesy of Oswald, there was really no excuse for her to delay any longer. She sighed, “Thank you.” Alynia told him before kissing him casually on the lips. “There’s no need to worry” she told the kind with a gently smile. “I will be alright, and certainly I will see you soon. But not soon enough.” Alynia whispered her last sentence. She was a bit shy to kiss him again, with Oswald and Zy waiting for her. “I love you.” She reminded before parting to join the brownie and her guard.

They were going to get to the summit using the winds, and if she recalled correctly the location she would be staying at would be the Marquis’s castle. She did not know the Marquis or his wife very well having met them once or twice at a ball, but she was certainly glad for their hospitality.

She gave Oberron one final grin a slight wave before the trio broke apart into nothingness for it was Oswald who activated the winds.