Thread: Taming the Bride (Prince & darkest_fate)

My, my she was a slippery one! Aric sometimes liked the wrigglers and squirmers. The game of pinning them down and keeping them there could be a lot of fun. Perhaps these noble brides just like playing hard to get, keeping their mouth shut and making you batter through their gates to get the goods. That elusive mouth was quite delicious and he just wanted to get his tongue in there a bit deeper, but her leaning away and twisting against his hands was making it hard. If she could just settle down for a half-sec -- THWACK! The force of her blow wasn't great, Juniper simply didn't have enough strength to hurt the much bigger warrior, but the unexpected nature of the slap caught him by surprise and caused him to turn his head and end up facing the audience in the chapel. Aric was vaguely aware of her slipping out of his frozen arms and then heard her hissing tirade. Of course, facing the crowd meant he got a great first hand view of the reactions of the audience to this suddenly entertaining, or horrifying if you were part of Juniper's retinue, show that was being performed for them. Juniper's clump of countrymen had looks of shock on their faces, turning to supportive fury as they saw their prized Princess fight back. The shouts of indignation were already starting. A doddering, very old knight in Juniper's camp took a step forward, hand grasping for a sword that wasn't there given all her men were disarmed, and seemed like he wanted to challenge Aric to a duel. Fortunately, most of the audience were retainers and lords from Aric's realm. They all had amused, knowing smiles on their faces from seeing his kiss that transformed into looks of shock and, for the ones that knew their King well, eager interest to see what he might do next. One of the whores started clapping enthusiastically, perhaps thinking this wasn't abnormal given the weddings she typically attended, until her friend grabbed her hands to shush her. Aric straightened with an amused smile on his face, giving the crowd a mock bow as he rubbed his cheek lightly. He turned to his bride, smile still on his face but eyes shooting daggers at her. He caught her slender wrist in his hand and squeezed it tight, bringing it up to his mouth for a mocking, soft kiss on her knuckles. You aren't in your daddy's castle anymore, sweet wife, Aric said in a soft and disconcertingly amenable tone. It was pitched low enough that the crowd couldn't hear, a kindness to at least save her some dignity. You don't know me, so you get that slap for free. Next time... well, let's hope it doesn't happen again. I'm not a man to be trifled with. I can kish you... too, murmured the priest, who had shuffled closer, eyes still fixed on Juniper with puppy like infatuation. A sharp glance from Aric was sufficient to send him scuttling away with a squeak of dismay. There were some groans from Aric's camp as they had hoped for a more severe and public punishment, but both sides managed a polite applause as Aric raised Juniper's wrist high and started walking, half-tugging Juniper at first, down the aisle as man and wife. To my feisty new wife! Aric cried out again and again, a big smile on his face that masked the annoyance building inside. He didn't mind feisty, but he was getting the sense that this haughty Princess was going to test his patience in ways he'd never experienced, and patience was a virtue that the passionate warrior had never been known for. The sooner he put her in her place, the better.