Merry was exactly where Conri said she would be, in a hidden room behind the Rose Arbor. Rhys and Sage followed Merry and once they saw the hidden entrance Sage flew back to tell Frost. The little demi-fey saw the fear and worry in Frost's eyes and for once didn't joke about what was happening. "We saw how to enter but you have to hurry. I don't know how long we've got before Cel tries something. He's always wanted Merry. I'm not sure he won't give in to that desire before he tries to kill her."
Frost swept through the Sithin like a blizzard through a calm town, and Sage had a hard time keeping up with him. They arrived back at the entrance in record time. Siobhan lay Merry down in a room she never knew existed. She looked at Cel and didn't like what she saw. An obsessive light burned in his eyes as they roamed over Merry's prone body. It wasn't desire for the throne but for Merry herself. Few knew that Siobhan had been Cel's lover for almost three hundred years now. More than that, she loved him with everything fiber of her being. How could she not have seen his obsession for his cousin? How could she have been so blind? The uneasy feeling from earlier returned stronger than ever. This wouldn't end well for them, especially for Cel, she feared.
Merry started to swim back to consciousness. She tried to figure out where she was but nothing looked familiar except for the two people standing over her. Merry pushed up into a sitting position, a hand automatically going to her stomach. The bond with her babe remained intact, causing a small sigh to escape her lips.
"Then it's true, you're pregnant." Cel accused in a harsh voice, as if Merry had committed a crime.
Siobhan's head snapped up. Merry's pregnant. Cel can't harm her or the child. He'll be executed for breaking our highest law. Children are too precious, especially now.
"Yes, I am. Why have you brought me here when you already knew?"
"You and your babe will never leave this room alive."
"Cel, you're mad. You'll be executed for such an act." Merry knew Buffy said she couldn't be harmed, but it didn't stop the fear for her unborn child.
"Who's there to tell that I'm the one responsible?" Cel smirked at her with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Me." Frost stepped into the room.
"And me." Rhys joined him, his hand already on his sword.
"Me too." Sage fluttered around their heads, not willing to be excluded.
"My mother won't believe you over me. I'm the rightful heir not this human," he snarled at them, "and there's nothing you can do to stop me."
"I can stop you, Cel. I challenge you to the death."
All three men yelled at once. "Merry, you can't...Think of the babe...Let me challenge him."
Merry shook her head, knowing that as long as Cel lived he remained a threat to her child. "No, I have to do this. No one else can fight this for me. What say you Cel, to the death?" Merry's chin went up several notches as she stared into her cousin's eyes without hesitation.
"I would be more than happy to meet you in a challenge, but what of my mother? She knows you're pregnant and would never allow it." Something about his cousin bothered him. She wasn't afraid to challenge him, almost as if she knew that she would win.
"Are you afraid, Cel? Andais can't stop a challenge once it's witnessed and accepted."
"But, the witnesses are your lovers."
"No, they're not. I'll bear witness to the challenge. It's either that or I'll support the others with what happened here today."
Cel turned to Siobhan in total shock. "You'd testify against me?"
"I'd do almost anything for you, my prince, but to harm a babe, that I won't be party to. What say you, my prince, challenge or execution?" Siobhan's white eyes challenged Cel in a manner he never thought possible.
"You would be executed with me," he reasoned with his lover.
"Yes, I would." Siobhan didn't say another word but her 'blind' eyes held the conviction of her words.
"Very well, I'll just get a chance to kill you in public. It doesn't matter to me one way or another." Cel shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
Frost walked over to pick Merry up and carry her from the room. He kissed her brow, murmuring love words to her while he made his way to Andais' room with the others following silently behind.
Cel grabbed Siobhan's arm roughly when she moved to follow. "I won't forget or forgive this."
"Neither will I." Siobhan wasn't afraid of Cel. She knew his secrets and had kept them willingly, until now.
"I find that I have no further use for you in my bed." Cel smirked at his longtime lover, knowing that she loved him.
"On that my prince, we both agree." Siobhan jerked her arm from his grasp, walking proudly from the room.
Her words shocked the Unseelie prince more than anything else that had happened this day. Siobhan's unwavering loyalty was the one thing Cel could always count on. It appeared he gained nothing this day and lost more than he believed possible.
Taranis smiled at the child-like woman. "You're my guest; I'm Taranis, King of Light and Illusion, ruler of the Seelie Court." If he expected to impress Buffy, he was sadly disappointed. He pushed his glamour up another notch and his smile grew wider the higher the glamour went. "My seers tell me that you're important to the fey and have a special gift - the gift of children. I'm in need of such a gift. I have no heir and desire you to work your magic to give me one."
Buffy allowed her eyes to go dreamy and Taranis smiled at how easy it was to influence this 'human.' "Make it so you can make a baby, can't you do that yourself?" Her voice took on a little girl quality.
"No, I'm sterile but your magic can change that and you wish to help don't you? It would make me happy. Don't you want to make me happy?" His voice sounded soothing and cajoling. A warm caress filled the bedroom, a physical touch of tenderness and subtle influence.
Buffy and Doyle heard someone in the hall. She nodded her head at him but Taranis assumed she was agreeing to help him. She smiled at Taranis and his excitement at achieving his goal was plane to see. Doyle appeared outside the slightly opened door, only to find of all people - Besaba. He knew Merry's mother hated her because she was a constant reminder of Besaba's forced marriage to Essus. Although the Seelie Sidhe would never admit it, she hated her daughter more for her beauty than anything else. As if she felt someone watching her, Besaba hurried away from the room, rushing down the halls directly into Taranis' bedroom. This caused Doyle's concern to grow even higher, with these two working with Cel against Merry what chance would the Princess have to survive. He appeared in the room to watch what Besaba would do next. As obsessed, as Taranis was with having a child, Doyle didn't think the Seelie King had lost every ounce of his remaining sanity to order an assassination. The kidnapping would have been a fair trade in Taranis' mind to gain what he needed - Buffy. Taranis wouldn't concern himself with what Cel did with Merry but he wouldn't have agreed to murder. Besaba was another story altogether though. Thinking on it now, it was clear that she saw it as an opportunity to rid herself of a thorn in her side.
Besaba called for Cel through Taranis' mirror but received no answer, no matter how many times she tried. "Damn it, I want that girl out of my life. I couldn't bear it if she were crowned queen. Taranis promised that if I aided him he would marry me. He doesn't need to know the bonus of Merry's death." She paced the room, ringing her hands, talking to herself.
Doyle had heard enough and reappeared in Buffy's room. She caught his eye and he nodded, letting her know that he saw the traitor and they could move on to the next step in their plan.
"All of this excitement's making me flushed, I need to throw some water on my face." She rushed into the bathroom, quickly closing the door behind her. Barinthus grabbed her, checking to make sure that she wasn't affected by the king's glamour. "I'm fine, Bar. Doyle knows who the traitor is, we heard someone outside the door and he followed them. I'm ready to leave this fairytale. I feel like Little Red Riding Hood in there, Taranis makes a great Big Bad Wolf." She smiled at her lover, caressing his cheek.
"I completely agree, Pixie. We don't want to start a war with the Seelie Court. There are too few fey already. Now, how do we use the information we know about Taranis to our advantage? I know come here, Pixie." Barinthus bent down to whisper in her ear.
His plan had her giggling. "You're evil, I like that a lot. I guess it's show time."
While Buffy prepared to deal with the insane king, Merry, still in Frost's arms, approached Andais' room. The Ravens guarding the large black doors started to protest, but the hard frozen glare Frost gave them had their jaws snapping shut and the door promptly opening. Augustus formally announced them, "Your majesty, Princess NicEssus and Frost are here to see you on an urgent matter."
Andais turned from her vanity seat, an eyebrow rose in question at who would dare to enter her quarters without permission. "Show them in, then allow no one else to disturb us." Frost carrying Merry surprised her, but her internal alarms went off when Rhys, Sage, Siobhan and finally Cel followed them. "What's going on here? Has Merry been hurt? Is the babe injured?" The expressions on Frost and Cel's faces told Andais more than she wanted to know. "I'm waiting for an answer." The Unseelie Queen stood pushing her power out into the room.
"Your son," Frost spat out, "kidnapped Merry, then planned to assassinate her and our baby."
"That's a lie. Cel would never break our most sacred law," Andais protested, searching their faces for the truth, which stared back at her.
"Mother, it wasn't the way it appeared," Cel pleaded with Andais to listen to him.
"Yes, it was." Merry's head came up off Frost's shoulder to stare into her aunt's eyes. "I've challenged him to a duel and he's accepted before witnesses."
"No! You can't duel. What of the child? I forbid it," Andais all but shouted.
"The terms are clear and we obeyed the law, even you can't break the law, aunt," Merry challenged Andais tired of the games her aunt continually played.
"Don't speak to me like that niece. You aren't queen, yet. You'll show the proper respect to me," Andais threw back at her. The queen's anger so palpable the people in the room could almost taste it. She didn't like the way this conversation was going. Why would Merry challenge Cel? She must understand that she'll lose, unless, but no. She only came into her hand of power recently it's too soon for her to have gained another one. Merry's Hand of Flesh is no match for Cel's Hand of Old Blood. What will this mean? She carries a child, a Sidhe child. They are too precious to endanger. How do I stop this?
"Merry, only those loyal to you witnessed the challenge. How can I be sure it meets the terms of the law?" Andais believed she saw a way out of this mess.
"I saw it also, your majesty." Siobhan stepped forward to stare at Andais with her white eyes. Her eyes were those of a blind person, but Siobhan saw and recalled everything.
Andais' frustration grew at being thwarted at every turn. "Very well, I'll call the houses tomorrow as witness; I'm not sure what will happen when they discover that you're pregnant." The repercussions filtered through the queen's head even as she spoke.
"There's no need to make an announcement until after the duel. Once its settled, you can decide what to say, or not say." Merry didn't let Andais know that neither she nor her baby could be injured. She also didn't mention her second hand of power - The Hand of Blood that she used against the Nameless. It would be useful in the challenge, she only hoped she could call it when she required it the most. This time she fought not only for herself but also for the life of her child. She had to fight the urge to cradle her womb.
Buffy reentered the room with a dreamy smile on her face, which Taranis assumed was due to being fey-struck. He almost danced in glee that he would obtain what he needed to remain king. Taranis couldn't understand why the seers got so upset over a girl, who was little more than a child. He patted her cheek then led her from the room toward his own grander suite of rooms.
She maintained a dreamy look on her face with little effort; she just thought about Barinthus' kisses. Buffy worked hard not to giggle at the way the Seelie King strutted through the castle halls. She wondered how often the fey used their glamour on others to make themselves more alluring. Not to say, they weren't all beautiful and unique without the added emphasis, but living for so long even the most blindingly beautiful person would become the norm. She saw their glamour as a weakness, something they used when they couldn't get their way.
They arrived in front of two huge doors made of - gold. Buffy fought even harder not to roll her eyes. C'mon, so you're the 'beautiful' people. This is over-the-top even for you, Trainwreck. Two guards wearing white and gold livery opened the doors. The livery looked exactly like that worn by the guards who her. Buffy didn't recognize their faces, though. Taranis waved her inside with a flourish and followed close behind. As she walked by, he noted how beautiful she was, for a human. Too bad her height eliminated her as an eligible candidate or he would consider allowing her the honor of carrying his child. The combination of their golden looks would create and extraordinarily beautiful child.
Once inside the room, they noticed a beautiful woman lying artfully across the bed. Well, beautiful by human standards but certainly not by Sidhe. She had a finely sculpted face with long perfectly curled brown hair that fell to her waist then spread partially behind across the bed. She was tall and slender; at least her body fit the idea of perfect beauty but her skin though smooth and clear didn't have the glowing alabaster of a true Sidhe. Her eyes were a plain brown, though large with long lashes and finely arched brows.
"What are you doing here?" Taranis glared at the woman spread seductively across his bed.
"Waiting for you, my lord, as always," the woman's answered in a husky and sensual voice, shifting so the robe parted to show glimpses of her charms.
"Besaba, leave now, I've another matter to take care of at the moment," Taranis said sternly, knowing that Merry's mother may still prove useful in the future, at least until he had his heir.
Besaba made a good courier for his dealing with the Unseelie court and an inventive bed partner. If her daughter was anything like her, Taranis had no doubt that Merry could keep six, seven, even eight lovers happy, with ease. He regretted that she didn't meet Seelie standards. He quite liked her blood-auburn hair. No, she was unacceptable short and human. What was unacceptable to the court was doubly so for its king. From her place on the king's bed, Merry's mother eyed Buffy and she didn't like what she observed. Once again, someone she regarded as lower than her carried the traits she coveted. Besaba took in Buffy's glowing golden skin, the gold flecks in her green eyes and the long blond hair. If Buffy were taller, Besaba would say she was a Sidhe, a Seelie Sidhe. She knew without a doubt if this small woman-child met the other requirements of the Seelie Court's stamp of beauty Taranis would turn to her for his heir.
If she's anything at all, Besaba's shrewd; she knew she needed to play her king carefully to become his queen. She intended to do whatever it took to accomplish her goal. She gracefully rose from the bed, her robe slipped down her arm to display one perfect breast for Taranis' viewing pleasure. Merry's lineage with the fertility deities came from her mother's side, as well as her father's. Besaba knew how to play her body like a finally tuned instrument. Taranis admired the tempting display, as any fey would, but didn't give into the temptation not with an heir on his mind. He bowed his head to his lover then turned to look at Buffy, missing the dark look that fluttered across Besaba's face.
Buffy watched with interest, catching the calculating look in the other woman's eyes. The king wanted Buffy to help him get an heir and care how she came to be in his court. No, this woman was the one who Cel dealt with and the one that wanted Merry dead, although Buffy didn't know why. Besaba moved slowly past the king, waiting for him to ask her to stay when he didn't she stormed from the room. Taranis turned to Buffy expectantly waiting for her to work whatever magic was needed to make him potent once more.
She smiled at him then spoke in a singsong voice reminiscent of Dru. "For a little one to come, you must speak load, clear and true. All must see and all must hear your greatest wish and your hidden fear. Once done, your fear will take flight and the new heir will make it turn out right." She swayed her body back and forth while speaking the riddle, wishing that she had a doll to complete the picture. She worked hard not to giggle then gave in and clapped her hands like a happy little girl. "A baby, a baby, there will be a baby. Will you let me hold it? I promise not to squeeze too tight, and I won't drop it, no I won't, not like last time, no, no, no, no, I won't." She shook her head for emphasis.
Taranis stiffened when he first heard what he needed to do but after watching Buffy, he realized that she was a simple child with a gift that he planned to use. He would dispose of her later, not caring the would be depriving other Sidhe the opportunity to have a children as long as he got what he required to remain on the throne - his throne. Taranis tried to determine if there was a way around the publicly announcing his sterility but couldn't see one. He wasn't willing to risk the chance that it would keep him from his goal. It didn't matter as long as he was finally able to resolve the issue that plagued him for so long.
Buffy gave a small yawn and rubbed her eyes like a little girl needing a nap. "You're still tired from your ordeal. We should tuck you into bed for a nap." He scooted her out the door like a stern father.
"I'm okay, I'm not (yawn) that sleepy. I want to help you. Don't you want to go and open the door for the baby?"
"Rest and I'll arrange everything for the first thing tomorrow morning. Here at the Seelie Court we like the bright morning sunlight for our most important activities."
Buffy nodded sleepily, hiding her grin as they made their way to her room where surprisingly Taranis actually tucked her into bed. When she feigned a deep slumber, he tipped toed from the room.
Andais frowned at the people standing in her private rooms. "This has been a trying day, I'll call a full court for tomorrow and the challenge may take place then. Now, everyone except Cel leave."
Her audience didn't have to be told twice, they all but ran from the chambers almost feeling sorry for the Unseelie Prince, almost. Frost carried Merry to her suite of rooms with Rhys and Sage hot on his heels. They waited until they were in private to talk.
As soon as the door shut, Merry propped up in Frost's arms asked, "Do you think Buffy's all right? What happened to Conri?"
The men looked at each other then Frost spoke up. "Barinthus killed him, Merry, after he made Conri tell us where you and Buffy had been taken. Merry, he truly is one of the Old Ones. He could've taken over either or both courts any time he chose. He only stayed for your father and later for you. Now, that he's found love with Buffy, I don't think the Kingmaker will be at Court unless needed. He only wants to take care of Buffy and his own kingdom."
Merry nodded sadly at the thought of her oldest friend leaving the court but also for her doubts. Now, that she lay safe in Frost's arms Merry's hand caressed her stomach. The strong connection with the child flooded her body with contentment and when Frost placed his own large hand over hers, it completed the circle for the little family.
"Our daughter's happy?" Frost's tri-colored grey eyes searched Merry's green and gold ones for any sign on pain.
"She's safe and happy. Can't you feel it?"
Frost closed his eyes, feeling a tiny pulse followed by pure bliss that went from his hand to his arm and directly into his heart. His eyes flew open in wonder and Merry just nodded.
"How'd you know it's a girl?" Sage fluttered closer to the couple, hating to be left out on any important news or gossip.
"I just know." A Madonna-like smile spread across Merry's lips.
"Merry, you can't fight Cel. Please, let me take your place." Rhys begged, moving closer to the bed. His hurt feelings at not being the child's father replaced with a fierce protectiveness for mother and child.
"No, it has to be this way, Rhys. I can't be expected to rule if I can't keep myself safe from challenge. I know this is what I'm supposed to do."
"Then tomorrow will decide all our fates. I don't think Andais will allow any who knew about Merry's pregnancy to live if Cel wins." Rhys' one tri-colored blue eye showed the truth of his words.
As soon as Buffy knew Taranis was gone, she popped out of bed and rushed to the bathroom. Shutting the door behind her, she had to work hard not to laugh aloud at the scene in front of her. Barinthus still lounged in the bathtub, somehow looking perfectly at home. Doyle sat on the toilet, resembling the famous 'Thinker' sculpture. Deep into a strategy session, the two men didn't hear the door open.
"Don't think so hard, Points, you'll pop an earring." Buffy grinned, leaning against the door.
He jumped at her cheery voice. Doyle didn't like the fact that he hadn't heard her enter the room. He tired to think through the repercussions regarding Buffy and Barinthus' plan. Barinthus laughed while he crawled from the tub to stride across the short distance to pick Buffy up, until they were nose to nose.
"Why aren't you in bed asleep like a good little girl?" He grinned mischievously, causing Buffy to stick her tongue out at him. He made a show of trying to bite it. "If I hadn't heard it myself, I wouldn't have believed it. Who would've thought Taranis would tuck anyone into bed."
Buffy pouted prettily, with a playful twinkle in her eyes. "You mean you're not gonna tuck me in bed, Bar? I mean if I'm a good little girl and go right to sleep."
Barinthus nipped her jutting lip then kissed it softly with a laugh. "Pixie, when have you ever been a good little girl? Now, tell us what you learned before I turn you over my knee." He tried to sound tough but couldn't stop the chuckle that burst out.
"Do you promise?" Buffy winked at him with a saucy grin. His words came back to haunt him. A picture of her firm bare rear, the cheeks pink from his hand flashed through his mind. She wrapped her legs around him and an understanding light filled her eyes when she felt him full and hard against her core. Buffy nipped his ear and whispered, "Now, who's being naughty? Maybe, you're the one who needs his behind paddled."
Doyle cleared his throat, knowing the lovers forgot that he was still in the room. "Did Taranis agree?" He steered the conversation back to the matter at hand.
Barinthus reluctantly put Buffy down, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Yep, you could tell he didn't like it but doesn't care as long as he gets what he wants. I think I met Cel's partner in crime. She has long dark hair and eyes, pretty but not one of the glowy people. Who's she anyways?" She saw recognition dawn on her lover's face.
While Buffy explained everything that took place in the king's chambers, Besaba plotted to ensure she became the next Seelie Queen. She adjusted her robes before entering Taranis' rooms by the passageway created for her purpose - seduction. Her body hummed with the pull on the connection to her ancestors, the fertility deities. Besaba's glamour subtly changed her otherwise plain brown hair, adding golden highlights that caught the light and many suitors over the years. Her body though tall and slender became lush and full; tempting one to touch it, explore it. She stepped forward confident her sexual powers would once again pull Taranis back into her web. Seeing him already in bed, she dropped her robe.
A sultry smile crossed her lips as she moved further into the room, only to stop short. The king wasn't alone. He was with the one woman Besaba hated even more than her own daughter - Rosmerta, the king's social secretary, and everything Besaba wasn't - the perfect idea of Seelie beauty. Rosmerta with her gold-tinted skin, dark gold hair that was always styled to perfection and tri-colored blue eyes, which held an allure that followed her everywhere she went, along with the tinkling bells and the smell of roses, her calling cards.
Unaware of their audience, the couple continued their sexual games. Rosmerta expertly sucked, nibbled and stroked Taranis' hard cock. Her golden hair fanned out behind her showing long sleek legs and a high firm rear. Taranis pulled her lower body up toward him, then his strong hands parted her thighs. He slowly pushed his fingers into her waiting heat while his other hand held the plump lips apart. Rosmerta moaned as he pushed further into her. Taranis twisted his wrist the moment his fingers could reach no further. She screamed, releasing her hold on him.
He chuckled sensually. "Come now, Rose; a good gardener always tills the ground before planting the seed."
"Yes, Taranis, more." Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath.
He pulled her on top of him, her thighs landing on either side of his head. Taranis held her open while he plunged his tongue in to taste the fruits of his labor. Rosmerta once again sucked him down her throat determined to give as good as she got. His fingers played with her swollen clit then he replaced them with his mouth sucking hard before biting down softly, interchangeably.
Besaba had seen enough and left the room, her mind throwing out one plan after another. She stormed into her room, slamming the door behind her. "Think, what can I do to get rid of that blonde bitch? I'm not going to stand by and allow her to take what's mine."