5: Chaos

Being a highborn in the realm of Leprechauns, Goblins and Fairies was an added advantage but being in vampire with no other vampire in sight besides the soldiers that stood sentry at my door and the personal guards that followed at a respectable distance when I took walks in Sweeney’s garden, I felt truly alone.

The realm seemed a lot warmer than home. Aisling seemed to settle in quickly, being around other fairies. She would tell me about the capital city and how the streets flowed with beings going about their business as time rolled by. While I enjoyed her tales, I was envious of her taste of freedom. She could dance in the streets if that's what she wants to do but I could merely dream. This is the life I lead now, one where walking in the streets needed extra arrangements.

To protect myself, I had to make my presence less noticeable by the second. I'm not cut out for that kind of life. Living within the confines of the Brockbank house felt like I was a bird locked up in a cage. A bird that simply wanted to fly.

“I would love to walk the streets and see things for myself someday.” I said one afternoon.

We were seated in my bedroom, and as she picked out a dress for my dinner with my new… husband. She regaled me with her experiences. When I finished talking, she sighed, walked towards the windows and pulled them shut. She pulled the curtains together and a satisfying darkness dwelled in the room.

I could see her silhouette due to the lamp in the corner that cast a faint shadow in the room but she walked towards it and blew the flame out. Enveloped in total darkness, her body began to glow slightly as she took off her clothes and took steady steps towards me.

I swallowed as she plopped onto the bed next to me. “Do you think I should bolt the doors properly?” She asked as she lay on the bed.

I shrugged in response. “If you don't mind Sweeney walking in on us, I don't have a problem with it.”

She chuckled lightly. “Imagine what stories that would spin, the mad king walks in on his new bride and her maid in very uncomprosing positions. You would be forever imprinted into the minds of the people.”

“That would be a truly unforgettable legacy to leave here but who knows, Sweeney might just be into these kinds of trysts. We’d never know until it happens but I'm not willing to take that risk.” I replied.

“Have you two ever…” She started to say but stopped almost immediately.

“Realized it wasn’t your business midway into the sentence?” I asked with a chuckle.

“Yeah. But I'm still curious though.” She answered.

“I would be surprised if you weren't. No, we haven't been together. He's been in one meeting after the other since we arrived here, he has not asked for me, he has not come to see me. Whenever we have dinner, we have with in the great hall with his generals and like you've seen in the last few days, everyone tries their best to ignore me. I'm grateful for it.”

“I, know it's hard being here. Perhaps you should find things around the realm that could interest you? Something that takes your mind away from the realities of your day. No matter how temporary it is.”

“So, you want me to create a bubble and put myself in it. Wonderful advice Aisling, why didn't I think of that?” I retorted sarcastically.

“That’s not how I meant it.” She answered and sat up immediately.

“What do you mean then?” I questioned as I lay on the bed.

She pressed her lips against my collarbone and nibbled on it gently. “You know you can't step out of this manor into the streets without causing a stir. Everyone in the realm would know it was you, word would travel through the streets.”

“Isn't that simply ridiculous? If your king left the realm for war and keep back with a wife, aren't there bound to be questions too? What's the difference?” I say and lay on the bed.

“Let's not think about things we have no control over.” She said and pressed her lip on mine.

I moved away in surprise and stare at her. “Somebody’s missed me,” I say and wrapped my hand around her neck.

I pull her towards me and pinch her nipples as our lips crashed into each other once more. She lets out a low moan and slips her fingers in between my thighs. I felt my body tingle with pleasure as she dipped her fingers into my wet cunt and pulled away to lick the juices off her fingers.

“You fucking whore,” I muttered. My eyes danced around her body in lust as she giggled and pulled me onto the bed.

As we moaned in pleasure, I heard the door unlock and footsteps shuffle into the room then stop. I tried to pull away but Aisling clung onto me, oblivious of the person in the room. “Now, don't stop on my account.” Sweeney said as he took off his clothes and walked towards the bed.

Aisling jerked away and her eyes darted between my face and Sweeney who towered over her. “Hello, wife.” He turned to me and grinned.

My eyes darted to his groin area where his dick jerked in excitement. He reached for Aisling, ran a finger across her face and pulled her hair. As she yelped in pain, he pulled me into a kiss and thrust his cock into Aisling whose loud moans bounced off the walls.

“I would've never pegged you as the type to enjoy… these sort of things.” Sweeney said one morning as we had breakfast alone in the great hall.

It had been a week since he walked in on Aisling and I. I smiled at the memory, the event had brought Sweeney and I closer. I wanted to see what would turn out of getting to know him. I might not enjoy living in this realm but I could at least learn about the people and their culture.

“You know nothing about me.” I answered and poked at a piece of meat with my fork.

“That's true.” He said as he chewed. “Sorry,” He added and swallowed when he saw my look of irritation. “You don't know anything about me either.”

“Well, you arrived at my front door, ready for war. The only reason I still have my head on my neck and we're having this conversation is because my father refused to fight.” I replied and stuffed my mouth with food.

Since my arrival here, I had tried to stop thinking about the circumstances surrounding my marriage to Sweeney. And, how my life had been taken away from me under the guise of loyalty to my people. “A life for a million.” I mumbled.

“What?” Sweeney asked and arched his brow. I shook my head in response and forced a smile on my face. “Your father, he's a wise man. Blackwells do not back down from a fight, it is written in the old books, of all the clans on the planet Innis, your kind are always ready to die. Fearless warriors.” He said and his face lit up with a childlike awe.

“My kind?” I asked, slightly irritated. “What does your kind know about my house?”

“Everything we should know to protect ourselves in the event of an attack.” He answered with a shrug.

“You don't know enough then. How are inhabitants of your realm getting picked off and killed or sold to the slavers if you know how to protect yourself?” I asked and folded my hands across my chest.

A look of defiance flashed across my face as Sweeney grinned instead of responding immediately. “I thought about that when your father offered your hand in marriage instead of war. If he was ordering his men to pick off my people, he would've been doing it to incite war. To bring it to his door and have him refuse to fight set off alarm bells in my head.”

I let my hands fall to my laps as I listened to him with rapt attention. It was the first time someone had ever spoken to me about war or politics from a personal view. “If you thought it was strange that he was offering marriage instead of war, did it occur to you that he might not be your enemy?”

“Yes.” He answered and stared at his plate. “For a minute, I considered the possibility of walking into a trap but I decided to keep watching as it all unfolds.”

“So I'm here because you want to watch how this all plays out? Is that all I am? A pawn in everybody's game?” I retort and my face contorts into a frown.

“Perspective, Maeve. We've got to work on your perspective.” He replies calmly and leaned into his chair. “Think about it like this, I took my men, marching to your realm and for what? To return home without a victory of some sort? What kind of King would I be?”

“A mad one,” I answer before I can stop myself. I freeze in my seat as Sweeney stared at me from across the table. His expression filled with shock. I held my breath as the atmosphere became tense.

I looked away and picked up the fork on the table. A few seconds later he burst into bouts of laughter and I exhaled slowly. “They do call me the mad king, don't they?” He said with an amused look on his face. “I like it.”

I arched my eyebrows questioningly. “You do?”

“Yes, when people think you're… Eccentric. They don't know what to expect with you.” He replied and continued eating.

“So you accepted the marriage offer because it felt… different.” I said with sudden realization.

“Now you're seeing thing the way you ought to. Yes. It felt like something I would do. And, it was a good thing to have the Blackwells on my side.” He answered.

“You already have the Laffertys. Our marriage indicates that my people would never raise up arms against your realm.” I add and blink as the pieces start to fall in place.

“Exactly. A victory of sorts.” He repeated and smiled. “Now, I think I can offer you something better than being locked up in your room staring lustfully at your hand maiden.”

“Don’t speak about Aisling like that.” I said and chuckled. “Anything would feel better than being locked up in here.”

“Great. Let's get out of here, I'm tired of this food.” He said and stood up in excitement. I grabbed a cup of wine and followed closely.

Later that evening, Sweeney and I sat at the table in my room poring over books that he had made the guards haul from the library down here. “What's it like ruling the Leprechauns, Goblins, and Fairies?” Aisling asked as she poured wine into our cups.

I sipped and listened as he narrated how the clans had come together under the Brockwell realm. My eyes darted to Aisling’s face and watched as she listened with rapt attention. I wondered if his stories of war triggered any memory of hers.

A knock on the door interrupted our conversation and a guard poked his head through the door. “Sorry to interrupt, the generals need you in the war room sir.” He said and Sweeney blinked in confusion.

“What's happening?” I said and looked at Sweeney, “What's going on?”

“There’s only one way to find out. I'll be right back.” He answered and walked out of the room, gently closing the door behind him.

Aisling and I stared at each other in silence. “Are you alright?” I asked after a moment.

“I'm not sure.” She whispered and picked up the empty jar. “I'll be back.” She added and walked out of the room with steady steps.

I watched in apprehension as the silence enveloped me. The air around me felt different, the hair on my hands stretched out as a buzz coursed through my body. The door creaked open and Sweeney walked into the room looking solemn.

“You can't walk out of here excited and walk back in looking like that.” I said and felt my heart pound against my chest as I waited for his response.