Fear Me, For I Am Your Queen

[Kender Bard]

Lya found the bedroom to be deserted, which was good for her; she needed privacy in which to pray.

Going down on her knees, she clasped her hands together tightly and bowed her head to begin the prayer she had uttered every night for a few years now.

"Forces, please grant me the strength I once had-"

Before she could continue with her ritual prayer, another woman went down on her knees next to Lya. Lya shrieked in fright and scrambled away from this strange woman who had just appeared.

She had long, slightly curly black hair that turned to a rainbow of colors at the tips. There was an intensely ethereal beauty to her as well.

"Why are you screaming?" the woman purred and moved closer to Lya on hands and knees, displaying her ample cleavage. "We haven't even begun the fun yet."

Lya tried to scream again but nothing came out. Her eyes wide, she grabbed at her throat in shock and fear.

"Oh relax," the woman purred. "You're in no danger with me." She fluttered her eyelashes, her eyes changing color with each bat of the eyelash. Lya stared in mute astonishment. "Ah, good, you recognize me. Or at least what I am. I am..." She lay down her head on Lya's lap. "Soahc," she whispered in her most seductive tone. "I am here to make all your dreams come true... For a price."

"What price?" Lya asked in a bare whisper, glad to have her voice back.

"Nothing you will object to," Soahc remarked, reaching up to stroke Lya's cheek and neck with her fingertips. "I will give you better than your old personality; I will give you every ounce of the grace and confidence you crave. Never again will you cringe in fear. Never again will your mind be gnawed at by doubts. I can free you from all of your pain and concerns. All I ask is that you let me remake you in a manner most pleasing to me."

"What would you do?" Lya asked quietly.

"That's a surprise!" Soahc told her enthusiastically.

Lya remained silent for a few moments. "How will my Lady react to my accepting this deal?"

Soahc grinned. "That's a surprise!"

Although uncertain, after some more deliberation, Lya gave a slow nod.

"Excellent," Soahc giggled, sitting up and moving closely to Lya so that their lips almost touched. "Then just go to sleep and when you wake tomorrow you will be a new woman."

"But I'm not s-"

Soahc kissed her, warm and gentle. A tingle went through her entire body, the most pleasant sensation she had ever known. And then she became overpoweringly sleepy. Nestling against the Force, she fell into a deep sleep.

---

Lya yawned her way through the morning. She had no recollection of the events on the night before. Instead she walked with a slight spring in her step, feeling unusually cheerful and in high spirits. Once dressed, she sought out her husband. "Shadow?" she sang out coyly in her search.

[Northen Light36]

Shadow was out in the rose garden, just finishing up his morning prayers. He perfered sunrise and the outdoors when giving his respect to his force. A habit probably learnt from spending so much of his boyhood with the fires, but there was no harm in it so he'd never bothered to break it.

"Lya, I'm out here," he called upon hearing her call to him. He smiled warmly at her when she was within sight. "You look like you slept well, love."

[Kender Bard]

"Oh I did," she remarked as she approached him. "I must have dreamed pleasant dreams, because I've never felt better. Now, come here." She reached out and cupped his cheek. "My morning wouldn't be complete without you." She leaned in and kissed him--with considerable more passion than was normal for her.

[Northen Light36]

Shadow blinked, surprised, but responded eagerly. "My," he murmured when they broke apart. "Love, if getting a good night's sleep does this to you, we're going to have to find away to ensure you never have another poor night."

He gave her another, gently affectionate, kiss on the cheek. "Shall we wake the children for breakfast then?"

[Kender Bard]

"Let the servants; it's their job, isn't it?" she responded breezily. "I was actually going to suggest that we take a long breakfast and start audience today a bit late. Or..." She tilted her head slightly with a smile. "I could do audience and after breakfast you could spend time with the children. Take it easy for today."

[Northen Light36]

Shadow raised an eyebrow at that. "You want to do the audience alone?" He mentally winced at the shock in his tone, but the suggestion had supprised past tact. "Well, Lumi has missed our rides while I was in Fira. So I would like to spend some time with her... But... Are you sure, love? I know Audiences can wear you out..."

[Kender Bard]

"I'm well rested, remember?" Lya remarked, smirking slightly. "I feel like I can take on the world. And it's not like I'll be doing this all the time. It's a treat--my gift to you." She snuggled closely to him and wrapped her wings around him. "I trust you accept the offer?"

[Northen Light36]

"I'd be a fool not to," Shadow replied and hugged Lya tightly. "Thank you dear. I love you." And, at this moment, it was the entire truth for once. Suddenly it felt like he was seeing the woman he'd first fallen in love with again.

[Kender Bard]

"I love you too," she cooed and kissed him sweetly before leading him to breakfast.

---

The day passed quickly and Lya seemed no worse for the wear for having ruled over the audience alone that day. Indeed, she seemed even more invigorated. Empowered, even.

After dinner, she invited Shadow to walk with her out in the garden again. "I think we need to take steps to better show the unity and equality of Maelstrom and Talen'sul," she remarked, out of the blue. "I was thinking of, perhaps, spending more time together in Talen'sul. Not all at once, of course. We wouldn't want to disrupt the precious normalcy of our oh-so sensitive nobles here. But perhaps a few weeks every three months or so."

[Northen Light36]

Shadow leaned against a tree and thought. "It would be good for Lumi and Dami to spend time in the other half of the kingdom, although Dami will probably kick up a fuss. It'd be good for you too," he remarked with a smile. "I think it's a good idea."

[Kender Bard]

Lya's wings fluttered softly at that. "It is," she agreed with a bit of pride. "We can begin next month. Since you agree, at next audience I will make it an official declaration. No need to just go disappearing willy nilly or heavens know what'll happen." She shook her head slightly. "I put some paperwork on your desk, but we don't need to worry about that until tomorrow. Tonight..." She hugged him, and tapped the tip of his nose playfully with her fingertip. "Is just for us. Although." She seemed distracted. "With Flash's recent bereavement time, I suspect you and Gareth are having to work much harder. Aren't you?"

[Northen Light36]

"Mmm, I'm afraid so," Shadow admitted, wincing as he thought of the paperwork building up on his desk. Between Flash and he both being off work, his desk was groaning under the weight of everything that needed taking care of. "I'll propably be up late."

[Kender Bard]

"I think it's time that I worked on it as well, then," Lya told him. "This is my kingdom too. We should share the work."

[Northen Light36]

Shadow smiled. He didn't know what had caused this change in his wife, but he thanked the Forces for it. It was wonderful to have his wife back, rather then the mildly irritating near-stranger he'd been living with.

"Well I won't turn down spending time with you, love," he replied. "Even if it is just to do paper work."