Thread: Taming the Bride (Prince & darkest_fate)

He... wanted war? Did Juniper care about that? She considered it while staring at her food, her mind going through possibilities. It didn't dawn on her that her country might lose the war. She was only vaguely aware of the effect it would have on her people, on Aric's. What did she care what happened to the peasantry? They were so far removed from her as to be like tiny little ants. Rickkard practically whimpered in her ear, and she turned to look at him. Her husband, she neither liked nor respected. But Rickkard, Rickkard knew her father, knew her kingdom better than she. He looked almost worried now, and Juniper wondered for a moment what that could be. When the crowd hushed, the confused queen looked about, blinking her lavender eyes foolishly. Aric appeared to be attempting to smooth things over, to explain away her actions. Even Juniper's own people seemed to be buying the excuse, or at least accepting it. How quaint these traditions were among these strange, foreign peoples. Battling it out on their marriage day? Barbaric, to be sure, but not exactly horrifying. Princess Juniper she hadn't exactly been crowned yet, that would be another ceremony altogether. Rose as her husband lifted her. Fear settled into her gut, cold and fierce as she realized his strength. His arms felt like steel bands surrounding her, tighter by far than any corset the princess had worn. Juniper's hands fell on the table, and she trembled, both with rage and fear, before looking back at her husband. She could feel his eyes upon her bottom, and she wished that her dress had more than even the multitude of layers that protected her now. Play along? She looked about ready to spit. I'm a princess of a-- she began, only to gasp as she felt a hand upon her neck, another upon her bottom. It was the grasp about her throat that worried Juniper, made her cease. The hand felt calloused, almost cruel. Fingers tightened along her pale neck and the princess realized that one twist would end her life then and there. It would start a war, one that even Aric couldn't win, but Juniper didn't care about war. She cared about what happened to her pretty little neck. The boom made her eyes go wide, and she shook her head. No, stop! I am a princess! she began, stomping her foot, pushing against her husband for a moment. I insist that you stop this nonsense at once and let me go!' she tried again. Trembling, she looked up at her husband, Please? she tried pouting her lip now, almost instantly shifting from tantrum to pout, wielding her two most trusted techniques. You wouldn't want to damage your beautiful bride, would you? Just let me go. I'll even---we can---I'll undress for you, she practically cooed it and was tempted to roll her bottom. She had to be close to his groin, right? That was how it worked? But she felt eyes upon her. They all couldn't hear, but they could certainly see. desperate, she looked to her friends, but Rickkard and Lydia looked... they almost looked... pleased. Both looked at the princess with something strange in their eyes. Juniper stopped moving for a moment, utterly stunned. It... they almost looked... like Aric, and... and it seemed like Lydia, like she... like she looked like she... The lady looked as though she approved .