Chapter Text
All good things must come to an end, her mother whispered as she ushered her forward. Towards the man she was arranged to marry. The kingdom she was raised in, grew up with her father ruling. A kingdom she has helped build. A kingdom that requires her to marry a man, just so she can continue building it.
She dreamt of romance and desire. She dreamt of finding that one true love, like how Mother found with Father. They were happy, nauseatingly so, until the day he died. She forgot about the possibility of it all, of finding anyone to love and to be loved by.
The soft glow of morning entered her bed chambers like a ticking clock.
In the early hours, Queen Miranda of the kingdom Priestly, laid stretched out and tangled in silk sheets. Extremely awake. The light crackling of burning logs in the fireplace and the soft chirping of birds created a soothing atmosphere.
The weight pressed against her ribs shifted slightly, before a sharp chin nuzzled into her sternum. A giant tangle of curly, frizzy brunette locks came into Miranda’s line of vision as her trusted Knight propped up onto her elbows.
“Why are you thinking so loud, Miri?” Andrea whispered, leaning forward to place a lingering kiss on her chin. Whisps of soft brunette hair framed them. Her eyes connected with warm chocolate brown, a soft smile played on her lips. Andrea pulled herself up more, connecting their lips in a gentle kiss.
“It’s nothing, my love. I-I just wish I could have you, all the time.” Miranda stroked her cheek softly. It was an understatement for sure. She wished she didn’t have to hide the love she had for her Knight. She wished they could be together during the day. She wished for many, many, many things. The woman she has fallen in love with, over and over again everyday over the last year.
Andrea hummed softly, peppering light kisses around Miranda’s heated face. She stopped, just barely brushing her lips along her own. Andrea cupped her jaw, stroking her cheeks with her thumb. She leaned impossibly closer, breathing the same air.
“As do I, my Queen.”
-
Miranda wasn’t a fool, she was more observant than people gave her credit for. She can see each clench of Andrea’s jaw and how her grip tightens around the hilt of her sword. How she seems to stop breathing the second she hears Stephen’s obnoxiously loud steps get closer to her bed chambers. She watches carefully as Andrea adverts her eyes, but she is unable to hide the small glistening that reflected off her eyes in the candle light.
Stephen was none of the wiser, entirely oblivious to the endless nights of pleasure she had with her Knight. Or even to the fact her heart no longer belonged to him, if it even did to begin with.
He would throw the doors open and practically pounce on top of her. Andrea would close the door behind her, leaving them alone. She was unable to look Andrea in the eyes when Stephen showed up, it pained her too much to see the sadness in her eyes.
She did her duties as his wife, it is what she was taught. Though their nights together as husband and wife have become more scarce, it still pained her every time she betrayed her love.
What she hated most, was the hurt in Andrea’s eyes every time she came back into the room as Stephen left. She would watch as the knight quickly tried to hide it, but Miranda always caught it. The second the doors slammed shut behind him, Andrea was attached to her in an instant.
Andrea insisted on removing any and all traces of the King from her body. On the rare nights he did visit her, Andrea would prepare a bath for her first. Andrea would sit beside the tub and gently glide soap over her body, carefully following each ministration with her soft gaze.
One particularly long night, Stephen didn’t leave her chambers until an hour past the usual time. Andrea silently prepared the bath, only to rip off her armour the second Miranda’s toes dipped below the warm water. She followed her in, insisting she needed to be closer to her.
Andrea’s thrusts were powered by something entirely feral. Her fingers thrusted underneath the water, creating waves upon waves of water sloshing onto the floor.
Andrea would attach herself to the side of her neck, teeth scraping against her burning skin. She would cover the marks that the King attempted to leave on Miranda, with skilled precision.
Andrea left much darker marks on Miranda’s body, effectively erasing him from her body. The marks were easily excusable, everyone knew she was just with her husband. They didn’t dare question it or point them out.
Andrea knew this.
Andrea took advantage of it.
Miranda knew and she soaked it up. As her back arched against the tub, for the fifth time that night… None of which by her husband, she pushed Andrea to mark her hard. Take her rougher. Make her so lost in desire that she forgot her own name, and the responsibilities that came with it.
She would do anything to stay like this forever with her beloved knight. She would do anything to be with Andrea in every way possible.
She would leave the life she has lived for so long behind. Run away to a small cottage in the forest, surrounded by a meadow. Deep in the woods, where no one would find them. They would live life, and they would love freely.
A dream that meant abandoning her people, and all she worked for. It tugged at her heart when she thought about the kingdom she helped build. The people she has loved since birth.
And there was her Knight… Whom she loved and cherished. The reason she found affection and happiness in everyday life.
She would hope for a day that her two loves could coexist without the looming shadow of her husband.
If a day like that could exist, at all.
~
The night started like usual, everything was going so smoothly.
Why didn’t they hear him? Why were they socareless that night? Was it her thighs, tight around Andrea’s head? Was it the whimpers and whines muffled by the pillow she shoved her face into?
How could this have happened?
They were careful.
Every second.
Every step.
Every kiss and encounter, calculated with efficiency. Every mark and every move was effectively covered. But that night?
Her worst nightmare came true.
“GUARDS!” The King bellowed, wrenching the body from between her legs. The pillow flung off her face as she watched helplessly as Andrea was strung up by the roots of her hair.
Her beautiful, soft hair.
Miranda’s eyes wide in panic and Andrea completely defenceless.
Her sword propped up against the wall, her armor laid forgotten by the side of the bed.
Andrea struggled as the guards rushed in, wrenching her arms back in an awkward angle. She was forced down to her knees, as her head was still held high by the roots.
Stephen restrained Miranda, holding her arms down to her sides. He had a sharp hold on her chin, trying to force her to look at him.
He held her jaw painfully shut, his calloused finger tips pressed into her cheeks.
He was calling to her.
How could she do this to him?
You betrayed your king.
You betrayed your husband.
She couldn’t yell.
She couldn’t even scream.
Everything died in her throat as she connected eyes with her love. Chocolate brown pools, softly pleading with hers.
Not for help. No.
To trust her.
To stay quiet.
Andrea’s eyes shone with unshed tears. Her gaze never faltered, her eyes unmoving.
Her lips repeatedly mouthed silent confessions.
I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
Time stilled and her heart plummeted. Her love whispered, breaking the silence between them.
“I did it. I seduced the Queen-.”
A sob tore from Miranda’s throat.
“I clouded her mind. I betrayed the kingdom. I tricked Mir- the Queen. It was me, your Grace-.”
Silent tears streamed down Andrea’s cheeks but her gaze held firm. Her voice grew steadier with each word.
“It was all me...”
The King’s guards held her head higher, one pointed a sword to her throat. The tip of the blade dug into ivory skin.
Miranda wanted to reach out to her, but Stephen held her back.
He wrapped his arms tightly around her shoulders, pulling her against him. The fingers that dug into her face, now caressed her with care.
“My Queen… I will make sure she pays for what she’s done to you.” He whispered into her hair, causing a shiver of disgust to crawl up her spine.
Andrea’s pleading eyes, begging her to stay silent.
Your kingdom.
She watched helplessly as Andrea sacrificed herself, the sword drawing blood against her neck as it pressed deeper.
Her knight didn’t even flinch.
“My wife doesn’t need to see this, she’s been through enough...” He pressed a kiss to Miranda’s temple, as every inch of her body ached to throw him off of her. “-I’ll deal with the traitor later.”
Andrea was hauled up to her feet, the sword dropped away from her neck.
And Andrea smiled. She looked at her fondly, almost like none of this was happening. Like their world didn’t just end.
She looked at Miranda like she was committing her to memory. Like she’d never see her again.
Miranda kept her gaze until Andrea was pushed down the hallway and the door slammed behind her.
Stephen wrapped his arms around her, whispering words of reassurance. That the woman, that knight, would be punished for her crime.
He held her and she felt revolted. Her body lost the fight, she allowed him to tuck her into bed. To kiss her forehead.
Her body refused to do anything, as tears silently soaked the pillow below her.
Every nerve in her wanted to fight, but she couldn’t move.
Her eyes locked onto the sword left against the wall and armour on the floor. Her heart ached, the most pain she has ever felt since her Father passed. Even then, the grief made her feel as though she was dying.
Andrea wasn’t dead.
Yet.
Miranda didn’t know how long it had been, when Stephen finally left. Replaced immediately with her ladies maids. They walked over the armour, carefully avoiding the suit. She felt their eyes on her. She didn’t care.
She didn’t notice as they pulled her up from the bed and dressed her into her night gown. She barely registered as they tucked her back in, like she didn’t just lose the woman she loved.
to be continued..