One Hundred refusals (19)

A serialised romantic fantasy.

Previously…Chapter 18

Prince Sturnus was the most frightened man Gema had ever seen; the poor thing sat in bed shivering, too timid to raise his eyes to the one coming in.

“I must beg you to forgive me, Pearl! I… I do not…” he stuttered meekly.

“May I blow out the candles?” Gema asked.

“Of course, of course!” He agreed.

Gema quickly got rid of every source of light in the chamber, the darkness was pitch black, and although Gema knew that the Birdlings had a bad vision in the dark, she begged,

“Please, would you turn away while I undress?”

Prince did as asked. He was a nervous wreck, he didn’t comprehend what was happening; Gema took off her clothes, so did Cinnia-turned-human. Gema laid down as far away from the prince as she could. A tiny bell rang; she knew how Ash’s magic worked, the curse was broken, because the one getting into the wedding bed with prince Sturnus on their wedding night was indeed the real Queen Geminaris. Such was the plan. Now it was time to move on to the next part of it.

“What was that?” The prince asked, after hearing the bell.

“I’ll take a look,” said Gema. She got up but never laid down next to prince Sturnus.

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Gema reassured him.

Cinnia took her place, slipping beneath the covers naked and frightened. Meanwhile Gema picked Cinnia’s maid’s dress, creeping into the darkest corner of the chamber. King Olor was patrolling by the chamber; they heard his impatient footsteps marching back and forth. Gema had no magic to become a snake or a bird, therefore she hid in the corner, shutting her ears to the events taking place in the wedding bed.

“Dear Pearl, you are a wonderful woman, but as you know, I see you as nothing but a sister to me. Therefore, this deed shall be vile. But we must sacrifice our flesh for the greater good. The peaceful future between two kingdoms depends on this night. For Avem!” Prince Sturnus made a speech with his voice trembling. He crept closer to the one lying in the bed, and his shaky hand touched her face. The prince leaned over her and gave Cinnia the gentlest of kisses.

“For Avem!” Cinnia whispered under her breath, and kissed the prince back, praying the Foreverold would forgive this dark deed.

None of the two expected that the Foreverold shall take mercy upon their innocent souls, and bless them with passion of love beyond measure. By the time Cinnia had returned the fifth kiss the prince gave her, they forgot themselves in the gentle rage of lovemaking. Shaking hands turned steady gliding across the other’s skin, and lips followed the path the hands had discovered. Both weaved around each other, moving in perfect harmony of two birds flying side by side. And, indeed, Cinnia recalled how flawless their flight over the garden was, how easily they conversed afterward, and how handsome the prince suddenly became in the last rays of the dying sun.

Did her heart not whisper the gentle love waking within it? Cinnia had dismissed its voice as passing nonsense. She could not possibly love prince Sturnus, a maid, and a spy she was, not a noble woman fit to love a royalty.

Poor Gema sat in the corner blushing, and giggling to herself; those two seemed to be enjoying themselves!

Oh, Cinnia! Who would’ve expected you’d lose your virtue before me! She thought.

King Olor also was pleased, hearing the sounds of lovemaking. His useless boy became a real man afterall! The thrones of Avem and Hebeny were bound underneath those sheets, and the offspring created shall be the proof of this union.

King Olor went away, murmuring approvingly under his black beard.

Gema waited until the two lovebirds fell asleep in each other’s arms. She had no desire to linger listening to their harmonious breaths merging in their sweet dreams. Gema put on the maid’s attire, and crept out the room.

Though the drowsy guards standing by the door were surprised, they said nothing to the maid walking out the newlyweds’ chamber. She went straight to the Queen’s private rooms, and there also no guard dared to stop her from entering.

Ash was already there, lying in her bed, but he got up the moment she entered.

“Don’t get up. The hour is late, please, rest.” Gema walked to him, and sat down on the bed. “Well? Did you do your part?”

“Yes, all is well. Your sister has successfully lost her virtue. And she also is a married woman now,” said Ash, reclining back onto the pillows.

“Oh really? Do tell,” Gema was curious. She laid under Ash’s arm, surprised though he was, Ash did not move away from her.

***

Their plan demanded the following: Prince Sturnus had to consummate his marriage, yet Pearl could not lay with him because of the curse. So, Gema took her place in order to break the curse, but since she had no desire to betray her love toward Ash, Gema traded places with Cinnia, and made Cinnia sleep with the prince. The treacherous little maid owed Gema a favour after getting her kidnaped by the Birdlings.

All knew king Olor had brought a Birdling midwife to examine Pearl after the wedding night in order to prove the marriage had been consummated.

After Pearl had put on the maid’s dress and walked out the Queen’s chamber with snake Ash in her pocket, she set out to find Val, for he was the only one with whom Pearl wished to lose her virginity. Ash turned into a human in the garden, and soon enough they found poor Val drinking his misery away. Oh, how he rejoiced to have Pearl! Yet she was not entirely happy.

“I was raised in Avem. I cannot rejoice at the thought of losing my virtue before the marriage,” she said.

“Oh, may the Foreverold take mercy upon me!” Ash exclaimed, throwing his hands into the air. He rushed into the crowd, and before Val and Pearl had disappeared into the orchard kissing, Ash was back, pulling along a very drunk Ceremony Master. Ash convinced him this was a matter of life and death, and the good man indeed carried out a humble wedding ceremony for Val and Pearl, right there in the orchard, underneath the velvet-soft leaves rustling in the nighttime winds, and the stars smiling down on them. Ash witnessed the ceremony, and even he had to smile at the tears of love shining in Val’s eyes, as he put the ring on Pearl’s finger.

“Get to it, and quick! I’ll be back to help Pearl get into the newlywed chamber before dawn,” Ash said, shoving the drunk Ceremony Master out the orchard.

What Ash didn’t witness was the sweet lovemaking of Pearl and Val, who finally were allowed to give into their feelings. How lucky they were that the revelry of the wedding feast drowned down the sounds of their passion! It was a perfect night, despite all Pearl’s fears. And when they lay in the soft grass holding each other close, they saw a single flower blooming next to them; a lily of the valley, a spring flower blooming out of place, and out of time at the end of summer. Its sweet scent reminded Pearl their first kiss.

“What a miracle!” Val whispered plucking the flower, and giving it to Pearl.

“The Foreverold is blessing our love,” Pearl pressed the flower to her heart.

***

Meanwhile Ash had returned to the Queen’s chamber to give the two some privacy, and not long after, Gema joined him.

“When do we end this charade?” she pondered.

“We must make sure your sister is safe. There’s no telling what king Olor would do when you’ll show up. He has a band of Birdling soldiers guarding him here. I believe the best time to reveal your presence would be at the court’s first gathering, after breakfast,” Ash replied.

“So, we have a bit of time till dawn…” Gema’s fingers glided underneath Ash’s shirt.

“Not much. We mustn’t wait long to get Pearl back to the prince. Before he discovers Cinnia by his side. Besides… am I forgiven?” Ash smirked, grabbing Gema’s hand.

“Oh, my sister is a living mirror-reflection of me. No wonder you got confused! You are forgiven, and you shall be rewarded for being such a good matchmaker tonight.” Gema tore his shirt open, and placed a fiery kiss on his chest.

Not long after, both kissed heatedly, until, once again, Ash’s stopped Gema from undoing his pants.

“Lord Ashier, you’re the strongest man I know, to withstand such temptation.”

“Trust me, Gema, I’m the biggest coward you know. It is not strength guiding me, but fear. My people would disown me, if they found out.”

“That’s the beauty of our circumstances - they will never find out,” Gema reached for his crotch once again, but he grabbed her hands firmly.

“Don’t underestimate snakes! They sense deceit long before it is discovered!” Ash got out of bed whilst he still could.

“Speaking of deceit, I should get your sister back into the castle. The dawn is near,” he marched toward the door, tucking his torn shirt into his pants. Ash turned into a tiny black snake, and slithered out through the gap under the door, unnoticed by the guards.

Gema sighed, rolling in bed impatiently.

Am I the only woman in this castle, who didn’t make love tonight?! Oh, the Foreverold must be punishing me for all my mischiefs. I fought to keep my virtue intact, only to fall in love with the coldest of men, who wouldn’t take me!”