The Queen's Garden Mage

I woke to find my right arm completely numb and my throat aching worse than it had been the night before. I raised my hand to my throat and closed my eyes as the warmth of my magic filled me. In my mind’s eye I could see magic in the shape of glowing vines pushing the blood along ridding me of the bruise and then reinforcing the skin and muscle making it stronger, speeding up the healing process until the burning pain faded to nearly nothing just a small twinge gone by the time I dropped my hand and opened my eyes. I looked towards my numb arm to find Adri curled against me, head resting on my chest bare save for the band I wore to cover my breasts. Her arm lay slung across my waist hand curling over my hip. I was surprised I hadn’t noticed the weight of her before, reinforcing the fact that in my mind she wasn’t as heavy as she thought or others claimed her to be.

She looked younger asleep, her face free of stress, her wise eyes hidden beneath the cover of her eyelids, her body lax. Safe…the Princess felt safe, I stroked my fingers through the earth and sand strands that curled around her face, she did not so much as twitch. Hesitantly I pressed a gentle kiss to her brow stiffening slightly when she shifted before relaxing again, sighing softly in her sleep, a breath of cool air gusting across the heated skin of my chest. I relaxed heart slowing as I finally took in the fact that we were not in the infirmary, or my room for that matter. The walls were murals green things growing across the expanse of them, vines, trees, flowers any flower, any bloom, any tree you could think to name was there on the walls, on the ceiling all growing together in harmony. Some of the flowers held fairies, the glowing shadows of small bodies hidden within buds near ready to bloom, some were already free, fluttering around the trees looking splendidly happy and carefree.

There were centaurs, their coats coming in every shade one could find on a horse, from black to silver, from dapple to roan, chestnut, bay and any other one could think of. Their human halves just as varied. I saw a female that resembled the healers of my people, with brown skin and short hair cut in a specific way, her eyes were silver like my mother’s her ears pointed and tipped with fur the color of her coat, she wore a vest for modesty and it was uniquely designed to mold over her chest. It was said that none had ever seen a centaur in Angileri because they hid behind human skins and at times I wondered why something so magical would ever wish to appear human. No I felt perhaps they had left us, like the giants or hid from us as the older Fae do. There stood a giant, hiding behind an ancient giant’s spine all you could see was the bristles of a beard on his jaw, the edge of his nose and the glint of his eye and perhaps his hair near about mixing with the canopy of the tree he stood behind. A dragon flew across the ceiling shimmering blue and green like the sea, flying beside a griffin every red a human could dare name and perhaps a few one couldn’t. A moon shown on part of these fanciful images and the sun shown on others. The longer I looked the more that I could see, but the most prominent theme was green, the setting a forest that resembled paradise to me. I could probably stare all day and never grow tired.

The furniture in the room was a golden cream color so that it stood out, the wooden floorboards near about black in color, a small table sat on either side of the bed. The one to my right holding the Heir’s crown, the one closest to me holding a change of clothing, a pitcher of water and an empty glass. There was a window directly across from me, open now, revealing the lightening sky, I could hear birds chirping as they woke with the dawn. Another window on the opposite side of the room remained closed, curtains drawn to keep out the light. The door was a distance past the end of the bed beyond a little sitting area with a couch a few comfy chairs and a coffee table that held a chess set, one of the finest I’d ever seen, all the pieces set up so that one could play at any moment. The door like the floor was made of a dark wood, intricate vines carved into its face.

Much thought had gone into this roomm’s construction, my gaze once more fell on the Princess, sleeping peacefully in my arms. I twitched the fingers of my right-hand grimacing at the feel of pins and needles prickling along my arm as blood flowed. I tried to free my arm only to have her Highness burrow more snuggly against me murmuring incoherently against the skin resting above my heart. I chuckled softly realizing that I would be going nowhere unless I decided to wake her. I gazed out the window just beginning to brighten with the dawn of a new day, before closing my eyes shifting until I could at least feel my arm before drifting off to sleep with the Princess’ scent filling my lungs bringing peace to my dreams.

The feel of someone’s fingers trailing along my throat startled me into wakefulness, causing me to act before I even opened my eyes. I shot up catching hold of their hand before flipping them onto their back ignoring the startled yelp as I pinned them firmly to the bed beneath me. Too late I realized that I no longer had my blade and that the only person that could have touched me, unless someone had entered the room while we slept, which I’d have heard not used to this unfamiliar setting, would be the Princess. I opened my eyes now fully awake to find Adri flushed and breathless now thoroughly pinned beneath me. “My apologizes Highness I had not expected someone to touch me while I slept.”

The Princess flushed a deeper shade of red, “Your throat was bruised last night, I woke to find it healed and I was curious. I did not think and so I apologize.” She murmured sheepishly.

“No harm done…” I replied still holding her arms pinned above her head feeling overly warm as I gazed at her breasts now straining against the fabric of her shirt with each breath she took. Her breathing grew more erratic as I held her, heat pooling low in my gut.

“Gardener.” My eyes snapped to her face, she shuddered beneath me, eyes heavy lidded and dark with…desire? “You can release me now.”

I blinked freeing her hands slowly as I took a deep breath coming back to myself, I shifted off of her ignoring the heat in my loins and how good she felt beneath me. Goddess I rubbed my hand over my face before stroking my fingers through my hair to find vines still intermingled with dark strands. No wonder it hadn’t fallen into my face or gotten in the way in the past few sun slithers. I pulled them free, calling them to my hands with my magic before wrapping them around each other in a little ball. I placed the mass of green on the bedside table dark strands drifting into my face now free of vines.

“I…” I didn’t know what to say.

“You were just waking,” Her Highness placed a soothing hand on my shoulder causing me to look up into her smiling face, we were the same height sitting down. “All is well between us.”

I sighed nodding my head, not wanting to explain that I’d been wide awake since I’d felt her fingers drifting across my throat. “Where am I?” I asked shifting until I could rest my back against the headboard. The loose green trousers I wore weren’t mine, I poured myself a glass of water drinking slowly closing my eyes as the cool water soothed my dry throat now free of pain.

“These are my private quarters, my real ones…They once belonged to my father.” She finished a little reminiscent of time long past. “The consort is given a room before the wedding to uphold tradition,” Her Highness explained. “The monarch and consort are not allowed to lie with each other until the wedding.” Adri chuckled at the look on my face. “It’s just tradition…Rhyme.” She hesitated before speaking my name, smiling bashfully. “They do share bodies beforehand to make sure the chemistry is true, just not beds a seven prior to the wedding.” The Princess shifted closer leaning forward until her lips rested warm and wet against my ear. I held my breath, “I have heard from the servants that it makes the wedding night even more pleasurable.” I shivered at the tingling sensation her words trailed along the shell of my ear pulling away to collect myself.

“Whose trousers am I wearing…where is my blade and my pouch?” I asked after a moment of charged silence. The Princess sighed, shifting until the space between us was larger, allowing me to relax.

“The trousers are your brother’s he insisted you would be more comfortable in them, he brought a change of clothing for you as well and beneath your shirt lay your pouch and your blade. My mother did not think it safe to leave you in the infirmary or your rooms after the small party of seasoned soldiers found the Shades we left in the forest all dead.” I snapped to attention gazing into the shadowy pools of now somber eyes.

“I killed but one.” I breathed as if she did not already know.

“I recall,” She countered wryly. “Their throats were slit, every last one…even the one you’d already killed, to be sure no doubt.”

“Someone knew…” I murmured thoughtfully.

“Or someone was waiting for us to leave.” Adri countered.

“I would have heard…” I furrowed my brow while she looked on curiously waiting for an explanation. “The green…the plants. They speak to me. Always. I would have heard if someone were hiding unless they hid far beyond my reach. Far beyond the confines of the forest.”

“Perhaps they were cloaked with magic as our attackers were?” The Princess offered tone thoughtful.

“I would have known.” I found my eyes straying from her face to the thin fabric still covering her chest. “Their magic means nothing, it is not natural to the forest and so I would have known.” I pulled my gaze back to her face. “The forest goes silent when there are predators about, whether visible or not I would have known.” I finished remembering how quiet the green had become in my mind. How alone I’d felt…I did not quite understand how others could live with such profound silence. How very lonely it must be for them.

“And so we must conclude that…?” She gazed at me curiously waiting to see if I had anything to say on the matter.

“That someone in the palace played a hand in this, and they did not want to take the chance that someone would talk. Someone in the Tournament perhaps…it could be anyone. It truly is the perfect time to try for a kidnapping or assassination.” I finished quietly.

“The Queen thinks it’s a culmination of things coming together, that more than one enemy is at large here. The land is restless…” The Princess rubbed her face tiredly.

“It has been restless since your father died and grew more so when your brother failed his Trials. You have passed yours and for that I am grateful but there are so many others in power who do not see this for the blessing that it is.” I shook my head. “Many who wish that your brother had been Heir or your sister. Those that have their own agendas.” I huffed disgusted at the greedy nature often found in man.

“Sounds like politics,” Adri commented seemingly unfazed by it all. “There is always someone trying to twist the system to their liking. More than one Councilor has been accused of such things…all men I might add, chosen before my mother came to power.”

“Chosen by your grandmother? Who still lives, some say, with the dragons…I remember meeting her in my youth a very stern woman. I cannot see her appointing men so caught up in their greed.” Her Highness shook her head smiling softly.

“Power corrupts people…”

“Yes and some would say that absolute power corrupts absolutely,” I countered. “And yet all the women I have met in your family are what I expect royalty to be. Loyal to their people, just in the face of evil, generous when the land is failing…Royalty in some places is dictated by birth and in Angileri it is that but at the same time you have to pass your Trials. It makes for great rulers…”

“Not always,” Adri countered smiling softly.

I chuckled, “Name one that wasn’t.” She shrugged unable think of a Queen that hadn’t been great in their own way since taking the throne. “Exactly.”

“You are quite the smart…” I cleared my throat giving her a look for daring to speak such vulgar language. The Princess laughed. “Every time I find myself about to curse, you stop me. Is there a reason for this Gardener?” She asked curiously shifting closer.

“I feel it wouldn’t sound right coming from someone quite as articulate as yourself, you’re to be Queen, no need to shock the masses with profanity.” I spoke softly staring at the wall instead of her face or lower.

Her Highness cupped my cheek turning my face until my eyes met hers. “I would not dare speak such language where others could hear, but we are alone and I feel comfortable enough to say such things in your company. I have only just reached my twenty-first sun cycle after all. Sometimes I would like to act my own age, say what I want. Make my own mistakes without the Queendom being involved.” Adri stroked her fingers along my jaw before trailing them down my neck causing me to shiver slightly.

“I really don’t think…”

“Gardener…?” I gazed into her eyes waiting for her to speak. “Stop thinking.” Goddess, she kissed me again and this time was better than the first. Deeper somehow, I wrapped my arms around her waist practically pulling her into my lap as our mouths moved together in a sensual dance. The Princess tugged playfully at my hair causing me to moan softly tightening my hold on her. She pulled away slightly not knowing if I moaned in pleasure or pain. “Did I hurt you?”

“No.” I pressed her down on the bed devouring her lips slowly while she arched against me, clutching firmly at my back. I felt dizzy listening to her moaning for me, the way her breath feathered across my face. The feel of her hands trailing fire along my back, her soft ample breasts pressing against mine, the thump of her heart beating wildly against my chest. I rubbed my hands up and down her sides teasingly as we kissed lost in the taste of each other.

Goddess knows how far we’d have gotten if the green hadn’t begun to clamor in my mind. I pulled away distracted just as a knock sounded on the door. “Adri love, it’s your mother.” The Princess sat up so abruptly that I fell to the floor. I scrambled to my feet while she fixed her hair and straightened her clothes. Her cheeks were still flushed, her lips bruised and her eyes dark. I cupped her face in my hands tracing my thumb lightly along her lips as my hands glowed with my magic.

When the Queen stepped into the room I was straightening my shirt sipping lightly from a glass of water standing beside the bedside table, if my hair looked a little mussed that could be contributed to the fact that I’d just slept on it without having braided it. The Princess smiled softly at her mother, breathing normally despite her breathlessness. If the Queen was at all suspicious she didn’t show it and for that I was grateful, my heart was racing faster than it ever had before.

“It is good to see you heathy and whole after such a display of power and prowess, truly my daughter would be lucky to have someone such as you in her bed.” I coughed choking on my water while the Princess blushed a shade of red I’d only seen in roses before burying her face in her hands.

“Mother!” She exclaimed exasperated while I tried to catch my breath.

Her Majesty smiled at our reactions to her statement. “I am looking out for my daughter’s best interest.” She waved her hand in my direction while facing the Princess excluding me from the conversation despite the fact that I could hear every word. “I know this woman would love you, she would cherish you in and outside of the bedroom, she would protect you.” The Queen looked at me then eyes full of mirth. “I do not know how much you know of my daughter’s feelings Gardener but she would not allow your head to rest anywhere short of her bed. Not even your brother could tell her different. It was quite interesting to see my daughter put her brother in his place for the first time in her life…”

“A sight I wish I had been awake to see.” I added brow raised slightly.

Her Majesty laughed softly. “I will remember it for the rest of my life,” She stroked her fingers through Adri’s hair. “I did not want her wasting her time with telling you, so I did. Now you can recuperate or you can remain friends and she can move on. A Queen does not pine…”

“Mother I am not Queen.” Adri murmured softly resting against her mother’s side as she stroked her hair soothingly.

“Yet,” Her Majesty and I spoke as one, causing a smile to appear on her Highness’ face.

“I am not Queen yet,” she added with exasperation.

“I will not insert myself further into your relationship whatever it may be at this time, friends or more. That is not why I came.” Her Majesty sobered more Queen than mother, Adri sat up straight expression no doubt as sober as my own.

“The Shade impersonators were found dead, every last one and sadly with all the commotion that day, many suitors trampling through the forest we could find no leads. Indeed, the killer planned their escape well. All the Royal Guards are on high alert, the suitors are being watched more carefully by the soldiers and the Sol-Lea is leading the investigation. I wish we could end the Tournament now, but there are too many Leaders here, and we cannot be seen as weak.” The Queen sighed. “I have heard that the Void is spreading on top of it all and the Council is divided unwilling to believe that Adri has passed her Trials without proof of her gift.”

“Why would she lie?” I questioned blood boiling at the audacity of men.

“After you’re Trials something is different, a small sign to prove you’ve made it, that you’ve survived and will forever be changed. My eyes were once brown…before my Trials.” Her Majesty stroked her fingers through her daughter’s hair, earth and sand. “Though many in the court think it a fashion statement Adri’s hair will grow earth brown and a blond so pale it could almost be white until the day she dies. The blond streaks her proof that she passed the Trials.” The Queen turned to me, “That’s how I knew without her ever having to speak a word after she stumbled out of that portal pale as a sheet and shaking like a leaf. It is not a well know thing. Truly only a Queen knows, a Queen and the daughter that succeeds her so that she too may know when her child steps through the portal if they have passed or failed. You cannot lie. As well I have seen her powers.” The Queen shook her head. “My son has gone too far in his hatred, he has poisoned the Council small bits at a time, and now I no longer have the power to be rid of them. He is weakening our Queendom and dividing my people and I do not know how it has gotten this far. Where men ask proof of their future Queen instead of trusting in her loyalty to the people.”

“They see what your son wishes them to see Majesty and nothing more, they see the power that he has promised them. Your son has chosen his path and it grows darker the longer we allow him to walk it unhindered.” I added solemnly.

“He will not outgrow this…”

“Not without help and a very good thorough beating, your son needs to be brought low Majesty and I would be glad to do it for you.” I offered expression a mask of indifference.

“You think you can change him, a man full grown now set in his ways?” The Queen asked sounding just a bit skeptical.

“He is hurting, he is spoiled, a brat having a tantrum, wanting something he thinks should be his. He gets others to do what he cannot, he is a poisonous snake that has yet to truly bite. His hands are soft, and unmarred, if he has struck a woman other than me I would be surprised. For now, he is all talk, Prince Eris…he could change that. He could make your son truly dangerous.

“I will fight him and beat him, without remorse, you will offer no aid, you will say his punishment is just for what he has done. The Council will learn, the men who challenged you will be cowed, in good faith you will give them their proof and then you will get rid of the ones strongest in their displeasure of your daughter and you will replace them with people you trust. None will question you in this, and you will have killed two birds with but one stone.”

Her Majesty and her daughter stared at me as if they were truly seeing me for the first time, the silence stretched long between us before the Queen spoke, “What of my son?”

“I know someone who will love him well Majesty and they will not ever let him get away with such injustices again.” I spoke softly voice sincere.

The Queen turned to her daughter and a look passed between them, before she turned back to me. “Will this be a public display or a private one?”

“As Sorel often says, he is still a Prince, I will not shame him before his people, only those that matter to him. Call your Council, a few select noblemen who you know for sure are on your side, bring forth all your Gardeners and but a few servants you can trust, when word spreads because it will we want it to be the right version of events. We will turn your son into a garden snake, harmless to us, but dangerous to rodents that lurk in the garden.” Once I had finished the Queen once more turned to her daughter.

“Keep this one in your life, not many see the world as she does through unbiased eyes. She will offer good Council.” The Queen said once more speaking as if I were not there.

Adri chuckled, “I will do my best mother.”

“When should this punishment take place?” Her Majesty asked coming back to the matter at hand.

“You are Queen whenever you decide.” I said not unkindly.

“How are you feeling?” She asked randomly.

“I am a bit tired still.” I offered honestly.

“Eat, rest…cuddle and speak with my daughter,” Adri buried her face in her hands again. “Tonight I will enact punishment on my son for all the trouble he has caused and I want you to be as strong as you possibly can. Tomorrow the Queen’s Tournament continues.” Her Majesty left us then without further hints or instructions.

“Your mother is not a subtle woman when it comes to affairs of the heart,” I said after I was sure the Queen would not hear me.

“I suppose she got tired of hearing me talk about you,” Adri offered cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

“How often did you speak of me?” I questioned climbing onto the bed.

“Often enough for my mother to take matters into her own hands,” Her Highness said wryly shaking her head.

I chuckled softly, “She approves of me?”

“Could you not tell?” Her voice was filled with exasperation, “Love matters more to my mother than politics.”

“You love me?” I spoke softly feeling a little breathless.

“I would not go that far,” I relaxed slightly. “But I could in time…if you let me.” I leaned forward and placed a kiss on the tip of her nose.

“Perhaps we should lay here and cuddle for a while?” I questioned patting the bed softly before laying down.

Her Highness laid down beside me snuggling close against my chest, I wrapped my arms around her enjoying the way her softness molded against mine. “This is nice.”

I laid a kiss on her brow sighing softly in content, “I would not mind this.”

“What do you mean?” Adri asked murmuring against my chest.

“Spending every morning of my life just like this…”

“Why Gardener we haven’t even shared bodies and you’re already proposing marriage who knew I was that good. Was it the feel of my tongue in your mouth…or the slight tugging of your hair? I didn’t know you were into pain.” Her Highness countered playfully making me laugh until tears streamed from my eyes.

“Goddess Adri that’s not what I meant.” She pushed up on her arms gazing down at me with a serious expression.

“What?” I questioned sobering quickly.

“You said my name again.” I relaxed smiling softly.

“Is that a problem, should I not have done that?” I asked a bit unsure of myself.

“No,” Adri stroked her fingers through my hair. “No it’s fine. I like the way you say my name. It’s different.”

“Is it?” I murmured curiously eyes drifting closed as she continued to stroke her fingers through my hair.

“Yes, you say it with a bit of an accent. I enjoy hearing you speak my name.” I wrapped my arm around her pulling her down to rest against me once more while she continued to play with my hair.

“Adri…” I murmured softly rubbing her back as my eyes grew heavy.

“Yes?” I opened my eyes to find myself lost in the twilight orbs that belonged to her.

“I could fall in love with you too…if you let me.” The Princess smiled the brightest smile I had ever had the pleasure of seeing.

“I might just let you Gardener…if you try hard enough.” I chuckled softly before allowing my eyes to close once more. Though I fought it, sleep claimed me soon after.