Just for this moment

[isadora]

She brushed her hair back behind her ear, nodding slightly when he pointed out how dangerous it would be. But this wasn't something she could just stay away from; they couldn't afford to abandon their allies. "And if I don't go, it will look as though I'm in support of Camelot's enemies. All our allies will turn on us, and our enemies will take the opportunity to attack when we're weak." She pointed out, even if it was dangerous, it was even more dangerous to risk war with not just their enemies, but their allies as well.

"And even if that doesn't happen, if I don't go, Gwent will have no say in whatever the kingdoms decide to do next, and that could involve going to war. I need to go to ensure that whatever actions we take are in our best interest." She didn't wish for war, but she knew that not all the kings felt that way; and depending how Uther was handling this, he might be out for the blood of his enemies. Isadora needed to be involved to ensure that her kingdom was not committed to anything that they had no say in.

"And isn't the point of keeping you around so I don't get kidnapped again?" She smiled, trying not to let this turn into a fight. There might be sword fights...no one had really expected the sudden romance between Arthur and Vivian, and she couldn't exactly predict what else would go wrong this time...but since Alistair was the usual suspect for kidnappings, Isadora felt that they might be able to make it through this time without needing to pay any ransoms.

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[Alistair]

"And isn't the point of keeping you around so I don't get kidnapped again?" She had no idea just how close she came every day to him just taking her and walking away from all this. The only thing that keep them here was because she had a temper and he knew it would not ever forgive him for doing it. Still; he could live with her hate if she was safe; but that was only a last resort. His escape route; should all this buckle under her; was all planned out. Ever detail from how to where to having the coin and even the bag packed to just go. Every time he walked around the castle and every room he entered was studied in case that was the place everything fell.

The only weak point in his plan would be if she got with child. A woman he could take down the darkened paths he had mapped out but a child who you had to keep silent and could not trust it's judgment he could not. The day that happened; his plans would have to be majorly uprooted and reworked.

Folding his arms over his chest he tired to think of the right words to use to make him sound final; so she could not argue back. "Then in one of your father's sane moments he is going to give an order for I or one of the few men I trust not to let you out of our sight." He didn't trust Gwent's knights, but there were a few men who happened to be knights that he was learning were more then mindless guard dogs. He wasn't sure what his role as her husband and king would be; but he did know that when she was in charge that these men would be the ones he'd want close to her. The others were idiots with swords and egos. The ones he trusted with her; were smart enough to not fully trust him; and to keep and eye on him around her. If they would protect her from one of their own; then they could be trusted to protect her from other idiots with swords and egos.

[isadora]

Isadora had no idea that Alistair had elaborately planned ways to kidnap her from her own castle; it never even occurred to her that he thought she would be safer outside the castle, away from the responsibilities of being a princess, than she was in her own home. Isadora had convinced herself that even if Alistair wasn't happy being a knight, he was happy enough being with her that he could tolerate it, and that he had accepted their life as it was, deception and all. If she did know about his plans to take her away, she would never be able to trust him.

She smiled when he gave up on arguing against her. "He already did...or, he will, as soon as you give me the names of the men you trust." Isadora trusted all of her knights, but if this was what it took to get Alistair to go along, Isadora would make sure that the men he wanted were in charge of her defense. She thought he'd fight her more on this, so she was happy to make this concession if it meant that they wouldn't have to spend the rest of the night fighting.

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[Alistair]

Alistair watched her for a moment, trying to decided just how far this will really go before nodding his head slowly. You'll have them." Names. Men whom he had to trust in order to keep her safe. Apparently it would not do for him to be trailing after her all the time; since fools with too much time and too little to fill it liked to talk. Gossip was a weapon with the upper class and one he'd not learned to whiled well; or even at all. It annoyed him to be be weaponless around such people. They whispered where you could not know what they said so there was no way to fight their words with his own.

Not that he knew the words to use.

Alistair didn't like the trip she wanted to take, but he knew if he made a move to stall it then the gossips that she feared and the other kingdoms would cause her kingdom to at a loss. He didn't see how missing one event would lead them to war but this was why he did not intend to be her king in action but in name. To him there was too much talking in their politics and not enough helping the ones that needed it. "By morning." So the men could make plans to ride as her escort; his name would be on the faked list from the king list as well.

[isadora]

The game of politics was a minefield, where one tiny misstep could lead to everything you had built crumbling around you. Insult the wrong person, forget to pay the right person their due, and you could wind up paying far more than you could afford. Isadora knew the deadly implications of noble honor and pride, and how insulting one person's ego could result in a war you wanted no part of to begin with. She knew the game, and the players, and while she didn't always make the right move or the best move, she had done well so far as keeping her lands and her people safe. That was her duty, her birthright and her responsibility, and she couldn't put it aside for Alistair or anyone else, no matter if she wanted to.

"Good." She smiled, that would give her plenty of time to inform his chosen men of their reassignment and allow them to make preparations for their journey. She knew the knights could be ready to leave at a moment's notice if she asked, but this way was easier for everyone involved. She trusted all her knights; but she knew the same could not be said of Alistair, and despite her better judgement, she trusted his word. He'd been living with them for months now, she supposed he ought to know them better than she could afford to. She simply didn't have time to get on friendly terms with every one of her knights.

With that matter settled, she felt much better. She'd been worried about telling him of her plans to go to Mercia, but now that he seemed to approve...or, at the very least, tolerate the idea, she didn't feel so anxious anymore. She was still worried about the conference, although less about the bandits and more about dealing with the kings and nobles of the other nations, but she wanted to put those thoughts out of her mind for the time being. She stepped closer to him, and taking his hands she faced the window and drew his arms around her, so her back was to his chest and they could both look at the stars and the sky. "Sometimes I miss sleeping under the stars, you know."

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[Alistair]

Alistair felt a sense of peace as she came to him and they turned to look up at the sky. Leaning his head down so he could breathe her in deeply while she spoke. He missed it too. He missed the freedom of the life he had lived and the safety of being alone. He missed hunting his own food, and going where he wanted. Missed fighting for the people of his blood knowing he could give them what they could not give them selves. Everything seemed black and white back them. Right and wrong. He knew what he had to do and he did it. Here everything was grey. Politics she called them. "Your safer here." As a druid's lover or wife, she would be hunted as one of them. As a princess she was protected by hundreds of men.

Stone walls made him feel caged but he knew she was safer here, and knew that this is where she had to be. Her people would protect her if she played by their rules, and in return she could one day try to protect his people. Alistair knew she could do more good for them then he could but he hated being out of the fight. It was moments like these however; with her in his arms that he didn't miss it. He wanted this life with her. A family of his own for him to protect and provide for.

He knew he never said much but she didn't seem to mind; and he was grateful. Sometimes he felt as if he should try to say more; but wasn't sure what words to use. He tended to make her mad allot; and he returned the favor on more then a few occasions. Yet he rather fight with her forever; then be back where he was before he had taken her from the Pendragon castle.

[isadora]

A faint smile came to her lips when Alistair admitted that she was safer here, now that was something she'd never thought her druid would say. Was he finally starting to see all her knights and her high stone walls as a good thing? She knew that he preferred living in the woods, relying on his own skills and strength to provide for himself, but she would never be happy living that life. She could tolerate it for a short time, sure, but much longer than they'd spent out in the wilds during their travels, and she would grow weary of sleeping on the ground and spending her days wandering through the endless woods.

Most of all, she'd miss feeling useful. When she and Alistair had traveled, she felt so helpless...like he needed to constantly look after her, like a child or something. It wasn't like here, where people needed her and she did things to help people, she was the one looking after others. She couldn't bear to feel so useless, like she didn't have any purpose. And with him here with her, she was the happiest she'd been since before she could remember; even if they did seem to fight more than they got along.

"I know." She answered softly, rubbing the back of his hand with her fingertip lightly. She liked it when they could just be together, without having to fight, even if they were silent, or nearly so. Alistair wasn't gifted with words, but it was something she liked about him. She was used to princes and noblemen lying through their teeth to her, charming and spinning lies like cloth until they got caught in their own webs. Alistair let his actions speak for him, and when he did speak, he didn't lie...not to her, not anymore. It was refreshing, and part of why she loved him. She twisted around in his arms to wrap her arms around his neck, looking up into his eyes. "Besides, what do I need stars for as long as I can look into your eyes?"

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[Alistair]

When she turned to face him, he looked down at her. Alistair liked how next to him she was small and soft everywhere. The women from his world were beautiful in their way, but it was a hard life and it showed. She was soft and smooth everywhere; and he still remembered the first moment he saw her as she opened the door to her rooms. He had known her face from his dreams but seeing her with his eyes had been different.

Had he felt as he did now; he would not have risked her life as he had. He dreams had warned him of her death by Vaughn and his men but he had thought to keep her safe. He's failed almost. He still had his dreams; but so far none were of her. This was good. If he had a dream of her then he would fear for her life and take steps to protect her.

He leaned his forehead down to her's so he could look into her eyes. He wasn't sure about the words; or about how to say to her in return. He had heard the other knights talking and knew they said that noble woman liked pretty words. Alistair had no pretty words; but he knew how to tell her what he wanted her to know. After a long moment of staring unblinking into her eyes he tilted his head sideways and kissed her deeply.

[isadora]

Isadora didn't need Alistair to say how he felt about her, she could see it in his eyes, feel it in his touch. That wasn't to say she didn't like to hear it now and then, but she didn't need all the poetry and pretty words that she knew he couldn't give her. For her, this was enough; this was all she needed to be happy. She looked up into his eyes unblinkingly when he leaned down to her, a faint smile playing on her lips. She was glad he'd decided to come up here tonight to glare at her, she had been missing him for a while now.

She closed her eyes when he kissed her, leaning into him to let him support both their weights. She knew that he would have no trouble with that; he was a big man, and she was a small woman. Even if she had gained some weight recently...but she hoped it wouldn't be enough that he'd notice, not yet anyways. He had better things to pay attention to than how much she weighed. Like the way she tangled her hand into his long, unruly hair. He'd really let it grow out, to sell the image of the knight he was pretending to be. The knight he was slowly becoming.

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[Alistair]

Alistair was a very observant man. He had learned from an early age to notice things in order to keep himself alive and to be able to do some of the more shadier jobs that he had been forced to take. However, a woman's weight was something every man knew to ignore. Besides, he liked her this way. She did not seem as fragile with some extra roundness to her.

He knew little of woman in that aspect. How they changed and aged. He had been with a few woman before his Princess. He could count each event on one hand, and while they had been pleasant they had not been as it was with her. Deepening the kiss, he half pulled her away from the window so no one could see them; and then pressed her to the wall. He broke the kiss for a moment and rested his face near her's, "Will your maid return tonight?"

[isadora]

Isadora took a deep breath when he pulled back from the kiss, her eyes fluttering open slowly as she leaned back against the wall. She could feel his breath hot on her skin, and she smiled at his question, shaking her head slowly. "She's probably already asleep." Isadora had started dismissing Anna earlier lately, since it wasn't like she needed her help to get ready for bed, and Alistair was sneaking up here whenever he got the chance. It was just easier if she didn't have to worry about her maid catching him in her room.

The cold stone behind her reminded her of caves and the cold ground...and bruises. Alistair could get overzealous, and her soft skin bruised easily. But that didn't worry her, she didn't mind the light bruises so much, except that she was worried about the baby. She pushed back on his shoulders lightly, then slid her hands down his arms to gently disentangle his arms from around her, taking his hands with her own. She slipped out from between him and the wall, backing up towards the bed and pulling him along with her. "Come to bed with me?"

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[Alistair]

Good. No maid meant he didn't have to hide while the woman came in to clean to undress his Princess. He happened to like that part of his day; and didn't need to pay some maid to stay up late and do it for him. Besides; he was too damn big to hide anywhere with out it being almost noticeable. The one time Vaughn and he had broken in to her chambers; he had been rather glad no one had found them; and that he had not been forced to hide someone awkwardly.

He didn't move at first when she slipped away; only turning his head to watch her. There was something different; about her lately but he could not quite place it. Something too subtle for his eyes to see; only his mind. He liked to think she was happy; and these times of no one trying to kill them and things actually going a bit their way was the reason. Turning toward her he moved closer quickly so he could lift her into his arms and carry her that way. "You never have to ask, Princess."

at the bed he sat her down on it; and stood back for a moment while he removed the half armor that all knights wore while in the castle. It was his least favorite thing about this charade. The bloody armor. It shined, it clanged, and it was heavy. AND it made him a target if he was in the woods where his normal clothing would have hid him.

[isadora]

Isadora laughed when he scooped her up so easily, it seemed like he didn't notice her extra baby weight as he lifted her over to the bed. She slipped her shoes off while she perched on the edge of the mattress, watching as he fumbled with the armor. It reminded her off the first time they'd met; more specifically, the first time she'd 'helped' him remove his armor. She put a hand to her lips to stifle a laugh. "Would you like some help with that, Druid?" She teased, reaching over to pull him closer so she could help with the armor...for real, this time.

She knew he didn't like the armor. She knew there were a lot of things he didn't like about being a knight, and living like this. But she was glad he was willing to put up with it, tolerate all the things he hated, to be with her. And if she could help make it better...well, she wanted to. For more than one reason. She pulled her knees up under her and sat up on them, the better to reach him and rid him of his damn heavy armor. How he and the other knights could bear to wear so much metal all the time, she would never know. "I've missed you."

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[Alistair]

After her offer of help, he looked up at her knowing that it was not the first time she had offered. Back upon their first hours together she'd made a similar offer and he'd been the fool to let her. His lips twitched in a rare smile before took a few steps closer to allow her to help him. He could remove the armor his own self if he wanted; but he liked to watch her do it. There was something about the idea behind it that he enjoyed.

Perhaps he was becoming too much like the nobles here. The thought should have bothered him. He knew other knights spoke of their wives who sometimes helped them dawn their armor or remove it as part of a honor filled tradition. While tradition meant nothing to him; he liked the vision of it. The idea of coming full circle. From the two who hated each other; and went out of their way to this now. When she spoke again; telling him she missed him; he reached behind her head and gently pulled her hair to til her face up to his and kissed her deeply not even caring if she was done removing the armor or if it was still hanging on him. He wasn't good with soft words; but he could tell her in other ways. He missed her too.

[isadora]

Again, he was letting her help him with his armor. Only this time, her hands moved surely and swiftly, and she didn't get him all tangled up in the chain mail. She smiled softly while she worked, aware that he was watching her...not that it had helped him any the last time she'd tricked him. But that was such a long time ago, and they'd come so far. Not so far that she wasn't keeping secrets from him anymore, she thought a little guiltily, but that was for both their well-being. She wondered, and hoped, that there would come a time that she wouldn't feel the need to keep anything from him. It wasn't that she didn't trust him...or was it? She trusted him to be Alistair, and Alistair wanted to protect her at all costs, even if it wasn't in her kingdom's best interest. Hence, she couldn't tell him everything. Not yet.

She had almost finished ridding him of the hated armor when he pulled her face up to his, and she found herself wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. She liked to say how she was feeling, and he preferred to act on it. And right now, she couldn't find any fault in that system. After a long moment, she pulled back from the kiss, bringing her hands around to cup his face, she gave him a final, brief peck on the lips before she resumed removing his armor, letting it fall to the floor next to her bed carelessly.

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[Alistair]

Alistair wasn't the type of man to sit back and laugh at his past; or enjoy the retelling of his life. However; when he though on it the early days of their their relationship were the ones he thought of the most. Mostly because he had forced her to do so much that now he would never ask of her. He had bound her til she bruised, forced her to walk till she fainted, and made her pull the skin off of a deer for her own meal. She carried buckets of water for a large distance, and other things that he he thought up in the moment.

There wasn't much he ever regretted, but there were a few moments back them that he now wished he could have done differently. Yet she had never been helpless. That was what he liked most about her. He was stronger and could over power her in a moment. He'd seen her so afraid that she cried, and seen her get so desperate; but she never stop fighting. Never gave up. She never didn't try.

He let her remove his armor and then sat besides her to pull off his boots one at a time. Once he was free from the complicated parts of his required clothing; he turned to face her. Framing her face in his large hands he leaned forward to kiss her again. "Kameu tut, Princess." He muttered the words of his blood before kissing her again.

[isadora]

Back then, she'd tried so hard to get away from him. She ran every chance she got, she seized every opportunity, she tricked him where she could and she wasn't afraid to play dirty. And yet, somehow along the way she had fallen in love with the man. He'd put her through the closest thing to hell she'd ever had to suffer, everything from washing laundry to hefting heavy buckets of water around. Maybe she was just too soft; anyone else probably would've spit in his face when he started trying to make her see things from his point of view.

But it wasn't like he had tortured her; the things he'd made her do --aside from the rope-- were all things people had to do everyday. And when it got to be too much, he went against what he'd told her he'd do and helped her. He'd shown her that he wasn't evil...he was just trying to help his people, the only way he knew how. And she couldn't fault him for that. In the end, he had proved to her that he was not only a good man, but a kind man, and for all the faults she'd found in him since then and all the fights, he hadn't changed her mind about that.

Isadora dropped back down into a sitting position once he sat down to remove his boots. "And you used to think that I wear too many clothes." She smiled, he probably still thought that. Nobles and their penchant for wearing far too much. She put her hand on his arm as he started to kiss her, smiling at his familiar words. No, he didn't speak much, but when he did, it was something important.

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[Alistair]

She did wear too many clothes! Why one felt like wearing a hundred things on their persons was beyond him. Until he took on his role he'd never owned a hundred things when you added things up for a few years; much less all together at once. Here you had under clothes, and something to shield the under clothes from your normal clothing. Padding that he wasn't sure why he had to wear when he wasn't planning on his armor, and then his normal clothing. No wonder knights looked fat!

And the woman were worse. They had dresses and under dresses and things meant to cling and mold their bodies; and ruffles and more layers! Madding they were. "You still do," Her told her, as he started reaching for her laces. It was much easier to seduce a woman when she could be undressed and redressed in moments rather then a half hour.

Alistair kissed her deeply as his fingers reached for the laces behind her and pulled them undone. Breaking the kiss he pulled her closer and turned her around. He rarely asked her to do things, finding it simpler to just move her how he wanted her. He moved her hair over her shoulder and placed a kiss on the nape of her neck. As each lace was loosened it gave him another place to kiss.

[isadora]

Isadora giggled when he confirmed her suspicions that he still thought she wore too much, but she wasn't going to try and alter decades of traditions so that he had an easier time getting into her skirts. "Well I wouldn't want to make it too easy for you." She teased playfully, maybe that was why noble women had to wear so many clothes...to preserve their womanly virtue? She rolled her eyes at that thought, because if that was the idea, it was failing miserably; at least, if she was any indication.

She trailed her fingers up his shoulder, almost reaching all the way to his neck before he pulled back, and she gave a squeak of laughter as he lifted her and turned her around. It was so unfair how much bigger than her he was...and yet, she couldn't bring herself to complain about it as he started to caress her neck and back with kisses. She smiled and closed her eyes, rolling her shoulders back obligingly as she enjoyed the ticklish, warm sensation of his lips against her skin, contrasting with the cool air that brushed her skin as he bared her flesh. No, she didn't want to wear clothes that were too easy to get off, she decided...then she wouldn't get to enjoy letting him undress her.

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[Alistair]

Life would be so much easier had she been a farm girl, one whom he did not have to worry about hurting becu0ause of his blood. At least not the way he worried about hurting her. As he kissed his way over her he could not help but think how soft her skin was and how delicate it felt. He knew from experience that she wasn't completely breakable but sometimes he felt as if he was tempting fate by testing it.

No farm girl would be this soft or have skin as unmarred and flawless as a princess. Their skin was tougher from sun and labor. He reached out, after the laces were loosened and pulled the dress down. Kissing her shoulder he let his hands trail down her arms to around her waist. "Free from your cage." The tight dress being the cage.