Blood crossbows and roses

"I don't care how powerful you are or what kind of authority you have. You abuse that power and you are no more than a tyrant."

Jane looked above the horrible sight below her. "How could he do this?" She winced at the atrocities committed against her subjects. Some people were wearing nothing more than rags, some were getting roasted acros coals, and more than a thousand were tortured or worse by the king's guard men and subordinates.

"How could anyone do this!?" She stormed off from the windowsill, refusing to let herself look anymore. All the while the subjects below were letting out blood-curdling screams.

"It is most unfortunate, princess." Quietly siad the lady in waiting. Princess Jane protests, "unfortunate?!" She questioned with loud exclamations. "Has he no soul?! At this rate there wil l be no more kingdom."

"Please my princess, you mustn't consern yourself-" she interrupted once more. "Shouldn't concern myself? Concern myself with what, Lady Shian? With the brutality of my father's reign? Or shouldn't I be concerned myself that neither my family is spared. Shouldn't I concern myself, Lady Shian, that many and many more innocent people's blood is spilt in front of me and innocent loved ones' eyes? I shouldn't concern myself? " She stopped herself before finishing her thought. She was realizing she's yet to approach her father's ferocity. She looked to the Lady in waiting, pale and shivering in complete fear.

"P-please don't, don't hurt me. M-my princess."

She gasped in fear for herself. "Please. Forgive my temper, Lady Shian. I know you have endured my father's wrath on far too many occasions. But mark my words, Shian, there will be retribution, on the kingdom's behalf, I swear on it." She sighed. "Now... go. You needn't tend to my care any longer." She motioned the lady to the door.

"Are you.... alright my princess?" Her fear turned shortly into consern for a friend.

"Quite." Answered the princess. "I just need to be left for a little while. No worry. I am composed." But indeed she was not. Not by any means. She however, was not about to let her dear Shian be caught dealing with her uncalled for outbursts.

"I won't let anyone suffer anymore! I swear it!" And at moments peace, she allowed herself to rest. When the peace ended she heard loud demands and scowls of her father, beating her mother as she sprang from the bed.

"No. No! Leave my mother alone!" She exclamed running to the kigns chamber. "Leave her alone!"

"Quiet you brat! Unless you wish for 10 lashes on each side!" Her mother quickly begged her. "Go, Jane. Please! don't torment yourself for my sake!" Jane looked back to her mother and then back to the attacker. "It's alright Mom...Do what you will with me, but don't you dare hurt my mom! As long as I stand here you won't touch her!"

"No. Jane!" Jane lifted her dress and undergarments, exposing her stomach and sides to her tormenter."It's alright, mother." She reassured her. The king growled "So be it! This is the day you learn your place child."

"Big sis. No." The two siblings cried in their beds as sounds of a whip cracking and their sister wheeping corresponded with each other. "Jane!" Her little sister squeaked. The mother fell onto her knees, as the sorrow of her young Jane being hurt lay before her. In grief and torment, she wept for her. As Jane endured the pain, her spirit was yet to be broken. "Don't fret my loved ones. There will be a day you won't need to cry because this brute's judgment will come for him. I'll see to it! Mark my words!" Mother's despair was shared that evening as the whole castle wept in her pain.

Later in the night, Jane slept in her room until she heard a knock on the door. She sat up in her bed as she heard more knocking come her way. "Jane!" Called a voice, eagerly waiting to be answered. "Yes? Who is it?" Jane asked in a dazed and sleepy state. "Jane..! You know who I am now open the door!" Exclaimed the voice which she knew would have belonged to someone either her servants or one of her family members up waking her up. But who and why? She had yet to discover. The voice of who was easy enough to discern. In a daze she hazard a guess. "Leonheart? Leonheart, what on earth are you doing up at such an ungodly hour?"

"Waking you up too of course!" She rubbed her eyes and yawned. "Quite obviously brother, I want to know why."

"I'll tell you once you've come outside." Quite frustrated, she sighed hard before defeatingly deciding to get up and open the door.

"Hurry! Come! Come quickly!"

"I am! dear brother." She answered. As she struggled to get out of bed she winced, the wounds still fresh from her father's lashings.

Oh. No. S-sorry big sister. I shouldn't push you should I after all you did-" she shushed him right before he could finish.

"Don't. Don't you worry about me. I will always protect you from harm. You're only a child."

"But-" Jane consoled him once more. She had finally managed to free herself from bed the pain all still there but she wasn't about to let him cry for her on her account.

"Leonheart. It's alright. Now please don't cry. I won't be able to come out to hug you so fast, it's only more painful." Leonheart nodded and paitiantly waited for her to follow him.

"Right. Now. I can follow you now but do slow down alright, you wouldn't want my wounds to reopen now would we."

"Okay sis. It's just this way." He complied, taking her hand and leading her slowly through the halls. "Intriguing as this little adventure is, I have to be just a little curious, where it is you wish to take me, you little Romeo."

"Sister.. no. It's not like that? We're related remember." He stammered in reply, sweat beads on his face.

"Oh... at ease dear brother. I'm only jesting of course." She giggled at her brother's reaction.

"Come on, this way" and then he lead her on. On through ball room, on through the kitchen, on towards the throne room, and past the kings quarters, which luckily they didn't see being scandalizing with older women. But the noises could yet be ignored.

"Tryrunios, unfaithful PIG!" She muttered to herself.

"How does mom even put up with this" her brother added.

"I suppose she has no choice in the matter, not before nor now especially now, that she has three little ones to take care of."

"So we are to blame?" Leonheart gathered. His eyes started welling up "she'd be happy if we'd never been born then, probably." As he finished his thought a single tear was shed. Jane sighed in sorrow and swept it from his cheek

"But of course not. My dear brother, never forget how much love she shares with us. Never forget how many times she held us in our strife, no matter how much she carries her own. I tell you brother, her fate would not have changed whether we were born or not."

"So why then?" He questions loudly. Jane shushed him. She never heard such pain is his tone.

"Oh dear brother, I believe you will... understand in time. Your heart is strong as lion, just as you were named. Let's not dwell on such things alright? Let's just focus on this little adventure we're on. How much longer?" She smiled. "He's going to be a great king himself one day. I can't wait to see it."

"Just one last room." He assured. As they had finally made it to thier destination she was quite shocked to find it was the queen's room they were headed to. "Mother's?"

"Don't worry, she's up?"

"I can see that brother! Mother, what are you doing up?"

"I'm afraid I couldn't sleep with my husband foreplaying his 12 mistresses and I couldn't leave you be, wounded and traumatized." She answered. She was still dressed up, her hair was still in it's style and her makeup had yet to be removed. She smiled at her darlings and frowned after seeing her loving and equally lovely daughter clutching herself.

"Oh, my Jane!"

"It's fine mother." Jane looked down avoiding eye contact. Her mother bristly embraced her careful to avoid pressuring her badaged sides. "I shouldn't have let you come in, you didn't deserve any of that punishment. It was all my fault!" She cried. "I couldn't just let you be hurt by such a monster. You deserve so much better than this." She smiled in tears. "I love you so much mom."

"And I do you so much too." She pulled her Leonheart closer to her. "Both of you. All three of you."

"Where is the third, mother?"

"Yes. Where is Rennha?" The Queen shushed her two offspring and motioned them to her bed where the littlest princess slept smiling. "She couldn't sleep either. Shame she couldn't stay up much longer, I have something to share with the both of you. I was looking through the Royal Library, thought a good book would take us away from the cruelty this reality brings. Anyway I was wondering through and this is what I found. She showed the book to her young audience reading out loud the title of it. "The Tales of Captain Robert And The Never Forgiven sea." She kept on reading to chapter 1, reading on about fantasy on the high seas, pictures of heroing pirates, stormy weather, and deep blue landscapes filled Jane's and her brother's head. "At long last. 'Land ho,' called the crows nest and the Captain smiled with pearaly whites and shiny gold teeth. 'Finaly', he gleamed. 'Steady on crue, and prepare the anchor.' And the men pulled the sials tight as the ship rocketed to the island. 'Now men! Dop it!' The captain called. 'Drop the anchor!' The crue realaid so it was and they docked the shore. Captain Robert set foot and breathed in the air. 'Ah'. He said, grinning 'what a smell it is the smell of treasure to be found.' Captain Robert steped on following his trusty map to the untold riches untill he found the x. 'And here she is. Come on lads and lases, get to digging and that they did as he digged too. They digged and digged and digged still until they heart. A thunk. 'That's it lads, pull her up.' The crue hurried to the chest tightly tieing up the treasure and pulling the heavy cargo up to the surface. 'I've been waiting for this boys and girls, all me life.' The crue watched in eager anticipation as Robert took out the key and slowly opened the chest. 'Behold the treasure of all treasures the golden trident! We're going to eat well tonight laddies!" And just as she got to the end her faithless king beconed her. "Forgive me, my loves I must go."

"Evilynn!" He called. "I demand you come! Now! Unless you wish for a lashing of your own. Fowl battle ax!

"C-coming my Lord." She quivered. "Hurry my loves, to your beds! I will finish another night."

The king growled. "My patience with you is already thin Evelyn! I say, COME HERE! NOW!"

"A-as you wish! (Hurry to your beds. He won't come here now go. Go!" As she opened the doors to the outside of her chambers the children fleed to their rooms and she hid the littlest child she swiftly hid under her dress waking her up. "Mo-mommy what's going on?"

"Hush little one. We're playing hiding and seek now okay. Hush, and do not dare making a sound we will loose alright." She scurried to the kings chambers. Her little girl right underneath the ruffles of her dress.

"There you are. Took long enough." The Queen kept her wits steadily refraining from boiling his already fowl temper. "What is it you need my lord. What do you desire of me."

"Now dear Evelyn I say you have always been so beautiful. Do you know why it was you who were choosing to be my bride?"

"I suppose it was, my pretense. You thought me to be special." She frowned.

"Hm quite. But not quite. You were choosing for me, as a suiter I knew of your family's reputation and naturaly I accepted." She gripped her dress hard. "As I first laid eyes on you, it was clear you were top quality of a bride for me."

"And that was due to what? My lord." He smiled and leisurely stepped closer to her. She could smell the breath of wine and the stench of perfume on his person. She gasped as she was grabbed by her cheeks.

"Because I knew I could break you, make you mine. You were a new, like a meek little lamb ready to be led to slaughter." He went in close to her ear and whispered. And now you're mine, my pet Don't try to run now, or where I will rip you open for all to see. Now come to bed with me my love your master is hungery." The knig beconed her.

"As you wish my lord. Just let me use the laddies room first to get ready for you before you defile my body of course." Evelyn rushed out to take her little princess back to her room with her brother. "Did- did. I win."

"Yes my Rennha you did it. You won." She smiled with sorrow. "Mommy what was that you were talking about with daddy."

"Oh nothing. Nothing. It's far to soon to talk about."

"Why?" Said Rennha as she was laid to rest.

"It's rather, it's rather improper I'm afraid. You've yet to understand how King and queens act amongst each other behind closed doors."

"How so?"

"That’s enough love." She kissed her godnight. "Go to sleep."

"Mom?" Leonheart asked sleepily.

"Yes, my son?" She replied back sweetly.

"Do you really love us?" He asked. And without hesitation she replied back. "Oh Leonheart, what would prompt you to ask that?! Of course! You, Jane and even little Rennha below you. You are all my very precious treasures."

"But you're so miserable. Aren't you? You're clearly unhappy here. Why don't you leave. "

"Oh my dear son. So sweet and loving. I prey you wont evey carry the same burden I do. I'm sorry son, I can't answer that right now." Once again she heard her husband call her in. "I have to go. Sleep well." She turns to her son's bed and kisses him good night as well. Bristly she closes the door and heads back to her lust-er.

"Ah, my Evelyn. I've been waiting for thee." He smiles lustfully sitting on the bed. "Come here, so I may enjoy the treasures of your being." Luckily he was more gentle, drunk. "If only. If only this is the man whom I'm married to and not the brute that I'm cursed to." she thought stepping slowly to his side. "That's my sweet Queen." Said the king as he took her into his arms. He began to kiss her ever so sweetly from the mouth kiss by kiss to her neck and then the shoulders while she was hypnotized by his touch he undid her gown, slipping his hands through it, corresing her curvature and slightly rubbing her breast. She couldn't help but blush. Her body, her sences fuzzy with arousall. After she was all hot and bothered, he began to slide his fingers through her legs her lips flush and sensitive to the touch. "My. My ladies flower is rather moist. Does she wish to be at my service." She felt hot, her inner juices flowing like a stream as she began to breathe heavily. "Shall I plunge my fingers further into thee, my love. Tell me, tell me if you wish me to stop."

"No. No. Please my gracios flower is yours. My king"

"Are you sure? My queen?" He smiled.

"Yes. My master. Continue to pluge. Do so deeper! Please!"

"As you wish." He said giggling by her ear. His fingers partially hand deep, he began to slide in and out of opened self, her breaths harder. Her inner walls tighten within the heat. He giggled sweetly playfully continued, slow fast, slow fast as her breathing reached erotic pitch. "Oh I see, the flower blooms. I must have a taste for myself!" He exclamed hoisting her onto the bed. Her gown was not quite off yet as she yelped out of surprise. He slithered up to her, kissing her once more, smooching her and sliding his is moist toung inside her mouth. He cuffed her hands with his own sucking her neck till a hicky appeared. "Oh my king, how I love your love onto me."

"My sweet's flower is too heard to resist." He kissed her again lips locking melting into one. Then he craweld his lips down, body. Down her neck and chest, all over her breast her arliolas kissing sucking licking. "Ah!" She moaned. He kept going and then continued to kiss the lower half her body. The hips, her stomach, her inner thighs he licked slowly and sensually. She moaned again. He stoped for a second to admire her ever aroused face, cheeks red, mouth a gape, eyes closed as if she would rather feel her ravenged body of completely as he made love to her. "My ladies needs to be pollinated. I can see. She needed my love such yes?"

"Y-yes! Yes my love." She moaned softly as he continued to play with her inside. "So soft, so tender. And now...." he slid past her hips kissing once again on the lower lips. She shook head then her whole body sivered as she felt his breath from below. When he finished kissing her lips he tugged them with his teeth. And she flinched as she let out sound of extisie.

Mean a while in the chambers of the young Leonheart, Rennha, the oldest of the three, Jane Roseiet, the two youger children were fast asleep even through the joyuos racket their mother made. Jane however, was yet to get their. She sighed in a somewhat relief. She had an idea of what was happening even though she was still quite young for it.

"Well my sweet Mother, at least at this time you found a break from his rage." Even though they were loud with it, she had no reason to complain, not about the only gentleness, no, the only real pleasure she got experience. Why would she riun that right to her? She thought and gave herself a go at closing her eyes.

At last they finished, winded yet satisfied. That.. was marvelous. He's so good with his staff of life. I've never felt more alive. He began to grab the covers on him coverring his bare self. "I see you enjoyed that." He told her.

"Yes. It was heavinly, your magisty." She breathed, still exhausted, satisfied but exhausted.

"You did serve my need well, my love. Thank you." He began to close his eyes as Evelyn sat up and slowly tried to arise. But before she even attempted to stand he grabbed her wrist anchoring it to the bed.

"Where are you going, my love."

"B-back t-to my chambers, my lord. If you don't mind." She answered startled. She very well new that it was her time to leave after all he was no longer intoxicated by now. What ever reason could he have to keep her there. "Do stay my Evelyn. You've no need to drag thy weary self back there. Rest and sleep here with me." She, unable to stand decided to lay down on the edge of bed. He then grabs her next to him. His body though very warm, she couldn't help but be suspicious of his kindness. "There's a good woman. Now let us rest. After all we'll need it for tomorrow." And suddenly it clicked. The ball. She gasped. But of course, the ball is what's taming him." This ball was known as Rosiyete ball Rascal the biggest most important event. Inviting royalties from all around the world and the beginning masive tradition all done by the 1ts Bryariana of the Rosiyete family role. Wheather or not the ball tamed his savagery, I'm grateful nonetheless. She closes her eyes awaiting the morning to be apon her.

The next day, Jane woke up with a start. When she heard the knocking she assumed it was either her brother or sister and at some times it would have been her mother. She hastly pulled some morning clothes before asking, "Who is it?"

A quiet voice answered her and called out. "Y-your magisty? I'm here to redress your wounds. Y-your mother sent for me. May I come in?" Jane sighed in relief as to who it was actually. "Ah-ha. Lady Shian! Yes! Yes. Come right in."

"Thank you my princess." She opened the door for her lady in waiting as she caried ointment, rags, fresh linen wrapping and warm water and soap to clean the wounds.

"Why must you call my that? You know me far well enough to call me by name." She seemed to reply as if programed to. "Y-your majesty, it is not becoming of lady in waiting to call her princess by name, I'm-I'm afraid." Jane looked uppon her frale malnourished face. "Well I say it is. Shian. I will say it is." She smiled with that. "If it suits you, your magis- I mean.. Jane." Jane smiled back bigger. "Yes. Very well." She pulled up her gown revealing her old bandages. "I should think you should brace yourself Jane." Jane sat on the chair next to her woredrobe and gripped the back tightly. "I'm braced." she huffed. Now. Do it. Quickly!" Shian took a bold deep breath as she slowly peeled off the old bandages her mother had dressed her with after the lashings. Jane sqeezed hard, white knuckles appeared as she gripped even harder after each was torn from her skin. It hurt bad but she wasn't about to make a sound, waking all her family up. "Okay I've done the peeling now let's clean you up, shall we?" She asked her, assured that the worst was now over. "Yes. I should think so." Shian took up her rag and plunged it into the water, soaking it. Then she rung it out enough to not get the karpet floor wet. And lastly patting up and down her wounds careful not scratch her already very soar wounds. The wet towel felt awfully nice on her skin as she breathed in it feels amazing. She continued to pat and dry away the blood puss and durt that had layed uttop her skin long enough. "Are you ready for the ointment now, Jane?"

Yes." She sighed. Ready but dreading what would be next. "Quite." She answered. "Alright, miss, here we go." As she rubbed the oily creamy substance on the wounds, Jane winced as it stung harldy. "Ah!" She cried. "I always hated the sting of our healing ointment. Even as a very young lady and I scraped my knee it still hurt."

"Perhaps, I can be of some services to distract you, miss?" Jane was more than obliged to be offered such a thing. "Go on ahead. I could use it." Shian went on to open the curtains and then began to brush her brown tangled hair. "So, what do you have planned, Shian?" She smiled at her as she thought about this. "Me and my husband are setting up for the festival tonight, it'll be lovely to carry such traditions with my family and folks!" Jane pondered on this. What festival, what tradition? "Festival you say?" She questioned. Still she tried to gather up what has already been siad. "The Bryar Festival, of course Jane. Have you already forgotten?" Shian giggled her magisties absent mindedness. "I suppose I have. She siad under her breath." She smiled at last a day of rest from his awfulness. I've been waiting for the day. "But of course you and your family will be hosting the Bryar festivities." Shian remined her. "You and the Qween that is and of course the young Leonheart and Rennha."

"But of course. We'll make it the best for this year!" Shian finished her hair and began to style it in a neat but loose bun, finishing up the final touches with a diamond clip and a tiara that fastened to her bangs and hung above her eyes. "All done, princess Jane. You look lovely. Now, do you need help with your royal gown or shall I leave you be? "I must admit, getting dressed properly has been a rather struggle to do. Your assistants would be ever so appreciated." Shian opened the wardrobe considering her options. "Do you mind if I pick out your dress princess?" Jane trusted her judgment and shook her head. "Not at all. Please," she encouraged. "Do so." Shian was took back by her response she had never been able to do so before, nor did she ever ask to. "Well then. Let me see." She slid her fingers along each dress hung. "Shian?" Asked Jane. "A-yes Jane?"

"I do trust your judgment, but can I request a small favor?"

"That would depend on the request," she chuckled. "I'm going out this morning. I'd rather not give away my position."

"Then a more casual look might be in order." She implied. "Let's see if I can find the item fitting that description." She continued to scower the wordrobe looking for the requested clothing. "Ah here we are. A simplistic yet elegant dress fit for a prices- I mean town folk lady." She smiled pulling out a simple gold-cream onsomble with a hodded attachment. Jane nodded impressed by her choice of clothign. Not that she was surprised, Shian was an excellent judge of dress. She had often saw her sewing on her off days and it turned out to be quite a success in the kingdom. "Ah-yes! That's perfect for what I'm going for."

"Here let me help you into your under guarments and gownage." She carefully slid on her garments, her bloomers and her tights and bralette. It was still painful none the less, and then just as Shian finished with her bralette a knock sounded from the outside of the door. "Big sis, are you ready yet? The chef has made breakfast already."

"Almost finished, Leonheart." Jane called back. "Yes young prince! We are nearly there. Just need to finish with her dress and corset. "No!" Jane shouted. "No corset just gown and shoes, Shian. Besides right this time is not very good for it. My badages have just been redressed. The corset would make matters worse." Shian compromised her intital though. "Alright then, just the gown and shoes." Jane heard her brother beg at her. "Come on! Big...si-is! How much longer?!" I swear he as impatient my father, but it is quite jestingly adorable the way he does. He'll make a fine suiter for a lass one day. Just then she heard another voice, softly her sweet mother cooed at Leonheart. "Oh son, why don't we go sit at the table now. Leave her be! She'll be along soon enough." She giggled. I enjoy times such as this, cheerful peace for whole day at last."