Dreamed Into Life

[Illianna]

"That can't be right! The lord forbids women to marry one another! Surely this is all some cruel joke! Surely you are my lord." I say panick and tires rising

[Arthur Chevalier]

"Ah. Yes. Well, here we don't follow the faith of the One God, we obey the Gods and Goddesses. Female marriage is a sacred, divine union to our people." His voice is soothing, gentle. 

[Illianna]

"But how am I to be a mother?" My heart breaks. My whole life I knew one day I would be married off to some noble lord and bear him children and be alone save for their company and that of my maids as is right for royal consort. But now, now what? How can I be a wife to this witch queen I don't even know her name! I don't know anything, and what of my parents? How ashamed of me they must be. Their stubborn daughter who has now been forced into a life of sin by the heathen monsters..... unless..... I rember my dream, in it was saint Katari who brought the word of god to her savage husband and his people.... What if this is gods will for me and Ari. To bring the tue faith to these heathens, perhaps when I convert them then my parents will for give me.

[Arthur Chevalier]

"Ah. Well. That's actually why I'm here. The Queen has granted me permission to... well, to get you with child. Now, I can do this quickly and you can shut your eyes and it will be over fast, or we can go slowly, which takes longer but you'll enjoy it more."

[Illianna]

"But we are not wedded, she she not worried that her succession will be questioned should she not bare you herself?!"

[Arthur Chevalier]

"By our laws, any children born to your union belong to her, as the dominant wife."

[Illianna]

"Dominat wife?"

[Arthur Chevalier]

"Yes. Think of her like a man: you are to obey her, and she will protect you from harm."

[Illianna]

Like a man, he says, but she is no man.... My mind races and suddenly a plan beguin to form. If I am to convert these heathland then once converted I will need a husband. He is not bad looking. Should I go along for the sake of gods work? I take a breath

"What is your name?" I ask gently

[Arthur Chevalier]

"Arthur." It's a familiar name, a name she can understand. "I was exiled for piracy some twenty years ago, and I was taken in by the Two Rivers people, where I proved my worth and became one of them. So you see, it can be done."

[Illianna]

A pirate.... "You don't have to do this" it's besrly more than a whisper all hopes of finding my first convert dashed. "Please, don't....don't do this." I can feel the wet on my cheeks and know now that my punishment for disobeying my parents is a life of torment and sin.

[Arthur Chevalier]

"I'm sorry," he says, helplessly. "I'll be fast, alright? You'll feel a little pain, and then it'll be over."

[Illianna]

I shut my eyes as he lays me back. I feel him stif and warm between my legs. I bit my lip hard as he thrusts into me, my body go's limp and I fall deep into nothingness. The pain and panic no longer belonging to me. I say away until he's done wiping my blood from his shaft. Only then do I truant to my aching tired body to sleep

[Arthur Chevalier]

"Goodnight," is the last thing she hears before she falls asleep. "I will be back tomorrow night."

[Ravna]

The next day, she is.... alone. Lonely. Gowns are delivered, fit to her size. Food is delivered, twice. She sees and speaks to no-one. She is utterly, miserably alone. 

In the evening, when the servant brings her meal once more, she finds he stays to lay it out on the little table. A moment later, after a perfunctory knock, the Queen enters, striding to the table and taking her place at it. She sits, waiting for Illiana to do the same, looking at her with an odd expression on her face.