The Drow Queen of Glaley [Very NSFW]

[Jassinth]

"You suppose correctly." She got a kiss in reward. "More."

[Shiori]

"...brave?"

[Jassinth]

"You are so very brave. It's a quiet sort of courage. You don't make big speeches or charge the enemy lines from the front. You just... do what you have to do." He kissed the palms of her hands as he spoke, then pressed one against his cheek. "You awe me."

[Shiori]

"I... I do? I just kind of figured I'm a survivor."

[Jassinth]

"You say that as if it were a thing of no effort."

[Shiori]

"Well, when it's that or die..."

[Jassinth]

"But it has rarely been 'or die' from what I have seen." He made a tisking noise. "No, it's been 'or submit' mostly. 'Or become a slave' perhaps. And each time you've chosen to shoulder on, to bear what you must and shed what you could."

[Shiori]

"No, my ex-wife would definitely kill me like she did that other fellow."

[Jassinth]

"What?" Jass asked, frowning. When the hell was this?

[Shiori]

"At least I think she killed him? Nobody ever would tell me what happened to Robert."

[Jassinth]

"Who is Robert?"

[Shiori]

"He was another husband in our harem. He was... unsuitable. I was his replacement."

[Jassinth]

Jass stared another moment, then slowly commented, "I think I would like to know more about your life before the Oak. Just what you are willing to share of course." 

[Shiori]

"It was a long time ago, it doesn't really matter," she said dismissively. 

[Jassinth]

"It's your life," Jass protested. "It's about you. I like things about you."